The official opening ceremony was performed on behalf of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Technology & Media Freezone, (TECOM), by Ahmad Bin Byat, Director General of Tecom and Halal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre.
The spectacular ceremony featured a massive 8m replica of a Tetra Prisma pack created especially for the occasion by Tetra Pak. A gathering of several hundred VIPs, local dignitaries and exhibitors watched as Mr Bin Byat pressed a button to unveil the pack, releasing a shower of confetti over the assembled audience. Accompanied by Ms Virginia Kern, Chairman of Fairs & Exhibitions Ltd, he then toured the show which comprises of over 340 exhibitors from 28 countries.
One of the major exhibitors of the Gulf Print exhibition is Dubai's International Media Production Zone. They used the occasion to unveil the first glimpse of the model featuring the new development covering 38 million square feet and due to be operational by early 2006. Bin Byat congratulated Project Director, Mohammed Binghalib, who so far has achieved investment of Dh800m in the project from local printers.
Following on from the unveiling, a keynote address was presented at the show by the Secretary General of the World Packaging Organisation, (WPO), Dr Carl Olsmats. His paper, entitled A Global Perspective on Packaging, covered a variety of highly important topics associated with sustainable development and environmental issues.
The Gulf Pack and Gulf Print exhibitions continue until Wednesday and feature numerous workshops and seminars. The programme kicked off with a dynamic presentation by two of the largest exhibitors, HP and Layout Middle East, agents for graphics software giants, QuarkXpress. The interactive workshop explores the latest digital technology for use in the graphics and printing industries under the theme of "From Design to Production". The presentation is repeated daily at 3PM.
According to Dominic McGill, Project Manager of Gulf Print, "the next major event will be the Student Design Awards. We have 76 entries on display at the show and the awards ceremony will take place actually inside the exhibition halls on Monday morning."
Commenting on behalf of event organiser's Fairs & Exhibitions Ltd, Virginia Kern said that "the shows were five times bigger than previous comparable events. This isn't surprising given that the packaging industry is worth around $500 Billion globally with well above average growth rates expected to continue in the Middle East and Asian region. With Dubai at the centre of this massive market opportunity, both Gulf Pack and Gulf Print are set to enjoy a brilliant future."
Browse
related articles
Spectacular opening for print & pack shows
- United Arab Emirates: Sunday, September 19 - 2004 at 13:42
- PRESS RELEASE
Related content
The region's largest packaging and printing event, Gulf Pack and Gulf Print 2004, opened its doors today at Dubai Airport Expo.
Article Options
Log in to request more information from Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E)
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorSunday, September 19 - 2004 at 13:42 UAE local time (GMT+4)
Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited.
Notes and Media Contacts »
Issued on behalf of Gulf Print by Momentum
For information contact:
Maida Talhami
Momentum
Tel: +971 4 390 1630
About Gulf Print 2004
Gulf Print is the regions' premier international print & publishing technology event taking place at Dubai Airport Expo between 19 - 22 September 2004. Gulf Print '04 will present the latest innovations in the printing and graphics industry. It provides exhibitors & visitors with a truly focused platform, both to buy and to sell.
For information on Gulf Print visit:
www.gulfprint.info
About Gulf Pack 2004
Gulf Pack is the regions' premier international packaging technology event taking place at Dubai Airport Expo between 19 - 22 September 2004, 10AM - 7PM daily. Gulf Pack '04 will present the latest innovations in the packaging industry. It provides exhibitors & visitors with a truly focused platform, both to buy and to sell.
For information on Gulf Pack visit: www.gulfpack.info
Abstract of Dr Carl Olsmat's Presentation
The major challenge to our society today is Sustainable Growth and packaging has implications in all of its dimensions, i.e. financial, ecological and social. The summit meetings in Rio 1992 and Johannesburg 2002 are important milestones in this context. In Johannesburg more emphasis was put on globalisation, trade and the social dimension. Globalisation, open economies and trade have a positive impact on economic development according to most economic researchers ( e.g. Segerstrom). The strong correlation between GDP growth and trade is well documented in e.g. statistics from IMF.
A pre-requisite for international trade is lean and well functioning packaging and logistics systems. Packaging can contribute to economic growth and an environmental load reduction through e.g. prevention of wasted products and more efficient transportation. In a social context, packaging can mean a lot to quality of life. Hence, packaging must be evaluated in a much wider context than as a waste problem. Packaging functionality bringing social and economic benefits must be weighed against environmental load.
Packaging and its main application area food and beverage (using some 60% of all packaging) are in general, mature business sectors in the Western society. Despite this, there are a number of growth areas and business opportunities on these markets, e.g. in ready-made and semi-finished meals, convenient, cost-efficient and time saving packaging and functional foods. This implies business opportunities, not the least for packaging suppliers outside EU. The main long-term growth in packaging from a global perspective can however be found in emerging markets and developing countries. Strong growth markets today are Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe.
Packaging can play a significant strategic role, as a tool for business development and improved business performance. Packaging should be an integrated part in the business strategies. The answer to future packaging is not one but a multitude of solutions to provide more value and functionality using less resources. Each packaging has to be more optimised and adapted to value chain and end-user needs.
Dr Carl Olsmats
For information contact:
Maida Talhami
Momentum
Tel: +971 4 390 1630
About Gulf Print 2004
Gulf Print is the regions' premier international print & publishing technology event taking place at Dubai Airport Expo between 19 - 22 September 2004. Gulf Print '04 will present the latest innovations in the printing and graphics industry. It provides exhibitors & visitors with a truly focused platform, both to buy and to sell.
For information on Gulf Print visit:
www.gulfprint.info
About Gulf Pack 2004
Gulf Pack is the regions' premier international packaging technology event taking place at Dubai Airport Expo between 19 - 22 September 2004, 10AM - 7PM daily. Gulf Pack '04 will present the latest innovations in the packaging industry. It provides exhibitors & visitors with a truly focused platform, both to buy and to sell.
For information on Gulf Pack visit: www.gulfpack.info
Abstract of Dr Carl Olsmat's Presentation
The major challenge to our society today is Sustainable Growth and packaging has implications in all of its dimensions, i.e. financial, ecological and social. The summit meetings in Rio 1992 and Johannesburg 2002 are important milestones in this context. In Johannesburg more emphasis was put on globalisation, trade and the social dimension. Globalisation, open economies and trade have a positive impact on economic development according to most economic researchers ( e.g. Segerstrom). The strong correlation between GDP growth and trade is well documented in e.g. statistics from IMF.
A pre-requisite for international trade is lean and well functioning packaging and logistics systems. Packaging can contribute to economic growth and an environmental load reduction through e.g. prevention of wasted products and more efficient transportation. In a social context, packaging can mean a lot to quality of life. Hence, packaging must be evaluated in a much wider context than as a waste problem. Packaging functionality bringing social and economic benefits must be weighed against environmental load.
Packaging and its main application area food and beverage (using some 60% of all packaging) are in general, mature business sectors in the Western society. Despite this, there are a number of growth areas and business opportunities on these markets, e.g. in ready-made and semi-finished meals, convenient, cost-efficient and time saving packaging and functional foods. This implies business opportunities, not the least for packaging suppliers outside EU. The main long-term growth in packaging from a global perspective can however be found in emerging markets and developing countries. Strong growth markets today are Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe.
Packaging can play a significant strategic role, as a tool for business development and improved business performance. Packaging should be an integrated part in the business strategies. The answer to future packaging is not one but a multitude of solutions to provide more value and functionality using less resources. Each packaging has to be more optimised and adapted to value chain and end-user needs.
Dr Carl Olsmats
Disclaimer »
Articles in this section are primarily provided directly by the companies appearing or PR agencies which are solely responsible for the content. The companies concerned may use the above content on their respective web sites provided they link back to http://www.ameinfo.com
Any opinions, advice, statements, offers or other information expressed in this section of the AMEinfo.com Web site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited. AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or reliability of any material, advice, opinion or statement in this section of the AMEinfo.com Web site.
For details about submitting your stories, please read the guide - all content published is subject to our terms and conditions
