Around 130 exhibitors from 20 countries will take part in the second edition of the specialised expo Paper Arabia in Dubai, which will highlight the paper, tissue, and converting industry in the region.

Paper Arabia 2009 will open tomorrow (October 27) to run until October 29 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The 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, said a statement.

“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,” said Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, organisers of the show.

“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.”

Ibrahim Saleh, president of the Arab Federation for Paper, Printing & Packaging Industries stressed the need for connecting the regional bureaus in the Middle East at a press conference held to mark the launch of the event.

The Federation has the Gulf Bureau, Jordan Bureau, Lebanon Bureau, the Arab Maghreb Bureau and Egypt Bureau, linked through information exchange, Saleh said. He 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.

Paper industry business in the UAE alone has grown ten-fold in the last decade and is now estimated to be close to $450 million, according to a report. 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, the statement said.

“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 2009 will host a number of Chinese companies that are members of the China National Household Paper Industry Association, displaying an 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.

Ten French paper machinery manufacturers under the umbrella of Scipag Embalco, the French Association of Manufacturers for the paper, printing and packaging industries, will also showcase new solutions for the paper industry at Paper Arabia 2009. – TradeArabia News Service