270 exhibitors on show at Gulf Pack and Gulf Print

270 companies will be represented from 25 countries making this the largest event of its kind in the Middle East.

Scheduled to take place at Dubai Airport Expo from 19-22 September 2004, the show is being organised by Fairs & Exhibitions Ltd, famous for organising events in the Gulf area for nearly thirty years. The events will present some of the world's largest packaging and printing companies including HP, Heidelberg, Creo, SIG Combibloc, Tetra Pak and many others.

The show will offer exhibitors and visitors a truly focussed event comprising of a trade exhibition, work shops, seminars and the first ever Graphic Design and Packaging Design student awards.

According to Sharla Hancock, Gulf Pack Project Manager, many of the international exhibitors are either coming to the Gulf region for the first time or are looking for a representative in the region. "This underlines the attractiveness of Dubai as a venue and a place to do business for the entire region. The shows will offer them the appropriate forum to meet prospective agents and buyers from the whole area."

Visitors can expect to meet a wide range of potential suppliers, from packaging machinery and technology, to packaging producers, labelling and date coding equipment.

Gulf Pack is supported by the World Packaging Organisation and their Swedish based Secretary General, Dr Carl Olsmats, will be travelling to Dubai especially for the event. "He will be delivering the keynote address after the VIP opening ceremony on the first day", said Ms Hancock.

As for Gulf Print, this year's exhibition will offer new machines, new innovations and the latest technologies. Dominic McGill, Project Manager for Gulf Print, explained that recent weeks have seen an influx of new exhibitors who previously took a 'let's see' approach. "Prompted by the recognition that the Dubai show will provide reach to a variety of regional markets, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, Gulf Print has attracted the support of massive printing and graphics manufacturers", he said.

The Exhibition will be used by the UAE's own International Media Production Zone (IMPZ) with the unveiling of the new model displaying the development of their unique free zone project. This is likely to be one of the highlights of the event with many investors keen to sign up for a slice of the free zone's action.

International groups are well represented at Gulf Pack and Gulf Print with a strong presence from China, Taiwan, Turkey and India. A further 21 other countries are taking part such as Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK and the USA in addition to exhibits from countries around the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.

The opening itself has been carefully designed to create an impact and to put the event well and truly on the map of major international packaging events. Ms Hancock explained that "there's a massive surprise in store for visitors and the trade. Exhibition openings can be fairly predictable, but with the help of Tetra Prisma, we have put together an opening event that will well and truly grab peoples attention."

Seminars and workshops are scheduled on a daily basis by companies such as HP, Layout Middle East, SIG Combibloc, Tetra Pak and others. "Exhibitors have been invited to hold seminars and workshops for other exhibitors and visitors to the show," explained McGill. "We already have a full schedule of events which promises to add a lot of value for everyone at Gulf Pack and Gulf Print."