Key paper industry players will showcase their latest products and solutions at a specialised event to be held in Dubai in September.

Paper Arabia 2013, the Mena’s premier event for the paper industry, will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from September 24 to 26.

The UAE imported approximately Dh4.6 billion ($1.3 billion) worth of paper products in 2011, as compared to Dh3.1 billion in 2007, said a report.

The industry figures published by UN Comtrade represent a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%.  

Dubai accounted for over 80 per cent of paper imports valued at  Dh3.8 billion, according to the same source.

Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, organisers of the event, said: “Growth in import of paper products can be linked to rising incomes and lifestyle changes, and in part to Dubai and the UAE as a transit hub. Dubai is host to several hospitality and conference clusters, which continually need specialised printing services and paper products.”

China and Indonesia are the key source of import, accounting for a quarter of paper brought into the UAE, while  Germany comes third, accounting for 8.1 per cent of Dubai’s imports, followed by India, US, Italy and Finland.

 “The most important determinant for growth in the medium to long term is the use of paper in tandem with product packaging and sales which are inexorably linked to population demographics. Papers manufacturers say that packaging accounts for a large proportion of paper consumption,” said Khanna.

Products and solutions to be exhibited will include packaging, distribution, wholesales/retailing, trading and marketing products, from leading firms from France, US, UK, India, China, Germany, Taiwan, Indonesia, Austria, Finland, Italy and other countries.
 
The paper, tissue and converting industries will be displaying latest technologies at the show. A wide array of machinery products targeting paper mills will be displayed, along with a range of household paper for end users. - TradeArabia News Service