Paper Arabia starts today with 130 exhibitors from 20 countries

A major player at the three-day exhibition will be the Arab Federation for Paper, Printing & Packaging Industries, which was established 30 years ago. With members in 13 countries; it works under the umbrella of the Arab Unity Economic Council that is governed by the League of Arab States.

The show is in line with the Federation's aim of sharing experience of the specialized industries, whether it is paper, printing or packaging, and removing obstacles that stunt the growth potential.

Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services which organizes the show, said:

"Paper industry in the region has grown significantly and Paper Arabia 2009 reflects our efforts to highlight key regional industry segments which have been silently contributing to the economic growth. The industry has seen major developments over the past few years and, with the exponential rise in its growth potential, leading local and regional players are now in the midst of strategic investment and market expansion."

Eng. Ibrahim Saleh, President of The Arab Federation for Paper, Printing & Packaging Industries stressed the need for connecting the regional bureaus in the Middle East. The Federation has the Gulf Bureau, Jordan Bureau, Lebanon Bureau, the Arab Maghreb Bureau and Egypt Bureau, linked through information exchange. Eng. Saleh called for greater integration between members as most are pre-occupied with their main activities.

He said that the paper, printing and packaging industries had several issues like rising energy prices, dumping, falling consumption and competition from foreign markets. He pointed out that paper factories in the Arab World have reduced their production as a result of increased pressure from the converting factory owners to reduce the import prices.

Dubai's position as a cost-effective hub for the industry was hailed at the press conference.

Paper industry business in the UAE alone has grown ten-fold in the last decade and is now estimated to be close to $450m. The paper market in the region is around 8 million metric tonnes per year. Of this total, 3 million is supplied locally and 5 million is imported.

Paper Arabia 2009 will bring together players from the paper, tissue and converting industry. This show offers opportunities to the manufacturers and suppliers of finished products, equipment, machinery, paper chemicals, services, supplies of paper, tissue and converting sector to tap the Middle East and North African markets.

"The show embraces not only paper industry but also tissue and converting industries which are witnessing tremendous growth where the UAE is one of the leading players in this field. The paper industry is registering spectacular growth with several production centers and paper converting businesses flourishing," said Khanna.

Paper Arabia, with more than 130 exhibitors from 20 countries from across the world, will be a key platform for traders and industry players to interact. The show's participants include leading global names from the UAE, Italy, Jordan, France, China, Netherlands USA and UK amongst others.

The China National Household Paper Industry Association, which has 520 domestic members and 24 overseas members, urged its members to work concertedly to meet the region's growing demand for tissue paper and disposable products through their participation at the show.

Paper Arabia 2009 will host a number of Chinese companies that are members of the China National Household Paper Industry Association, displaying a vast array of paper and tissue products and latest machinery pertaining to this industry. The show will exhibit for the first time machines for making disposable products, a clear indication of the evolution of this business in the Middle East.

French paper machinery manufacturers under the umbrella of SCIPAG EMBALCO, the French Association of Manufacturers for the paper, printing and packaging industries, will showcase new solutions for the paper industry at Paper Arabia 2009.

France boasts of some of the oldest machinery producers in the world, and their expertise can help regional players boost the nascent paper industry in the Middle East. Ten French firms specialising in paper technology are taking part in Paper Arabia tapping new customers explore business leads.