Al Fajer Information & Services joins hands with Messe Dusseldorf of Germany for ArabPlast 2005

Announcing the partnership at a press conference, a senior official of Al Fajer Information and Services said that the association with Messe Dusseldorf will further raise the profile of ArabPlast, one of the most successful international trade fair focused on plastics, plastic packaging and processing and rubber industry, which in its last edition in 2003 closed with deals worth US$271 million.

"We are delighted at this partnership with the globally renowned trade fair organizer, Messe Dusseldorf, which will translate into major participation of companies in the plastics and rubber industry from Europe. It is an acknowledged fact that over the years ArabPlast has grown into a prestigious show in the region for companies seeking to gain a firm foot hold in the growing plastic, processing, packaging and rubber industry sectors," said Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services.

"The plastics industry has a major share in the industrial sector of the Arab region. According to available industry sources, the basis chemical, plastic and metal industry has absorbed 60 per cent of the total industrial investments in Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE and about 90 per cent in Bahrain," he said.

Mr. Khanna said that in the UAE alone, there are more than 250 plastic industrial units which constitutes over 90 per cent of the total industrial units. "The total workforce in plastic industry is over 16,000 which hold more than 7 per cent of the UAE's industrial workforce."

ArabPlast 2005 will be spread across over 11,000 square metres in three exhibition halls at the DIEC. "We expect more than 350 companies to participate at this important show. Significantly, we also expect new country pavilions such as Spain, Portugal and Malaysia at this year's edition of ArabPlast 2005," Mr. Khanna said.

Commenting on the partnership with Al Fajer Information and Services, Mr. Werner Dornscheidt, CEO, Messe Dusseldorf GmbH said: "We consider the association with ArabPlast 2005, and with Al Fajer, a crucial and strategic development which will help increase Messe Dusseldorf's visibility in the region. We are confident of the immense potential the plastics and rubber industry has in the region and its increasing contribution to the economic growth."

Messe Düsseldorf is the organizers of the world's largest plastics and rubber industry trade fair `K' in Germany and has enjoyed a successful partnership with the plastics and rubber industry for over a half century.

"We believe that it is very important to join hands with the right partners in order to add value to our expertise in organizing trade fairs that brings undisputed advantages to our customers. Al Fajer Information and Services, with its wide reach and experience, will bring in valuable insights to our customers on the regional potential of the plastics and rubber industry," Mr. Dornscheidt said.

Already, ArabPlast 2005 has confirmed group participation from countries such as Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, India, Taiwan, China, besides leading companies from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the host country UAE. More countries are in the pipeline for booking space at the show.

ArabPlast will be a veritable showcase of a wide spectrum of plastic machinery, plastic and rubber processing technology, packaging technology, raw materials, chemicals and additives, besides products and services.

Country industry associations such as VDMA (Germany), Austria Economic Chamber (Austria), ANAIP (Spain), Assocomoplast (Italy), KPPMIC (Korea), and AIPMA (India), have extended their full cooperation to ArabPlast exhibition.

Commenting on the significance of ArabPlast, Mr. Mohd. Mubarak Iesa, Vice President, Al Fajer Group said: "Over the years, ArabPlast has gained widespread credibility as the key meeting place for the industry leaders, decision makers, distributors, manufacturers/agents, traders, R&D experts, opinion makers, government bodies, and many more related with the plastics and rubber industry."

"The rich source of raw materials such as petrochemicals and a demand projection of over 30 per cent growth in plastic and rubber sector in this region, has significantly contributed to the growth of ArabPlast," he added.

At the last edition of ArabPlast in 2003, over 228 companies from 18 countries participated and the fair had a trade visitor turnout of 6,528 from across the region, particularly from AGCC countries.