Middle East Toy Fair Conference set to give insight into the international toy business

The conference will run alongside the Middle East Toy Fair at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 13-15 May 2007.

The Middle East Toy Fair, organised by Messe Frankfurt, provides visitors with the opportunity to meet with hundreds of the world's leading toy, stationery and baby products manufacturers and distributors, as well as sourcing new products.

The show is also a platform that allows networking with industry colleagues, comparing products and services under one roof, and keeping up to date with industry trends.

Toy Experts, Manufacturers and Traders from all over the world are expected to converge on Dubai with the latest in toys, baby and infant products, stationery and back to school products, games, hobbies, books, gifts, apparel and licensing. A German delegation of 25 key Toy Industry members is visiting the Middle East Toy Fair 2007, in addition to the 21 exhibiting German manufacturers. Furthermore Walt Disney Europe will head to Dubai to attend the exhibition and the adjoining Conference. The show incorporates the Baby and Infant Expo, the Stationery and Back to School Expo, giving visitors three specific areas to source products and new business relationships.

With one of the world's fastest growing populations, the Middle East continues to offer excellent prospects for the baby and infant markets. The exhibitor product profile includes: baby furniture, bedding, car seats, clothes and shoes, cots and travel cots, high chairs, monitors, intercoms and alarms, nappies, storage containers, strollers and toiletries.

Conference Panel speakers will be on hand to provide visitors with the latest industry news as well as vital information of the educational value of today's toys.

From a business perspective, Andrew Dobbie from the UK, will be a key member of the conference panel. He is the founder and managing director of Gameplan Europe Ltd. The former European Marketing Director for Mattel is an expert in strategic consulting, distributor search, executive search and publishing of business information.

Joining Dobbie to provide educational support, is Neil Griffiths, the creator of the internationally acclaimed Storysack. A former primary school head teacher, Griffiths, who is also from the UK, is the famous author of a book on creative play, entitled A Corner to Learn, is co-author of a nursery curriculum and runs a series of workshops known for their practical, informative and entertaining contents.

And providing vital industry insider information, is Waskan Abadjian from Intermarket Consulting in Germany. The former export manager of Haba Habermaaß GmbH, he specialises in the distibution of toys in the GCC and Middle East, as well as the demand for toys and children's products within GCC countries.

Commenting on the conference, Messe Frankfurt's Monica Schulz Blank explained that it was an integral part of the Middle East Toy Fair 2007, providing visitors with a deeper perspective of the toy industry as a growing and developing business, as well as an important educational platform.

"Our aim is to offer visitors to the exhibition the opportunity of learning more about the toy business, providing insights into the internationalization of toy companies, but also discussing the importance of play in the education of children. We plan to continue to build the Middle East Toy Fair as the annual meeting point for the toy industry in the Middle East and beyond."