More than 300 exhibitors from 40-plus countries are expected to participate in the upcoming Paperworld ME 2019, the region’s foremost trade fair for stationery, office supplies, toys and games, in Dubai, UAE.

The event is set to be held from March 18-20 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

‘More than Paper’ is the underlying theme of the event and organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East is staying on course with an expanded product line-up and special programme of value-added events.

In its 9th edition in 2019, Paperworld Middle East has over the years continually added to its fast-growing product range. In its previous edition in February 2018, it added Leatherworld to the exhibition floor, presenting the region’s only B2B platform for finished leather goods and accessories.

A new Corporate Gifts section was also introduced to the show in 2018, while a revamped Playworld Pavilion replete with children’s toys and games was well received by more than 7,000 visitors from 90 countries at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

That’s in addition to regular features such as the Wrap Star competition and the Green Room for sustainable stationery and office supplies, while a three-day seminar programme ensured industry professionals and insiders were kept up-to-date with the latest Middle East market trends.

Now Messe Frankfurt Middle East is upping the ante, and is introducing more creative and playful initiatives that further underline Paperworld Middle East’s More than Paper tagline.

All the regular features are again returning, while among the new highlights next year is the Corporate Gifts Avenue aimed at the discerning buyer.  

The exclusively designed area toward the centre of the show floor will comprise a row of manufacturers and suppliers of high-end corporate gift items, from luxury confectionery and high-tech gadgets, to unique accessories and niche leather goods.

Meanwhile, another new addition to the highly-popular Playworld Pavilion early next year is the Mystery Box, a balloon shaping competition hosted in partnership with American balloon manufacturing company Qualatex and its Gulf region’ s distributor Gravitas International.

The competition will invite various Middle East balloon shaping artisans – from event planners and wedding organisers, to specialist gift stores and toy retailers – to shape their own balloon creations from a selection of Qualatex balloons hidden inside individual boxes.

“The Mystery Box competition and Corporate Gifts Avenue are examples of how Paperworld Middle East continues to evolve, as we draw inspiration from, and capture the imaginations of professionals across a broad range of related industry segments,” said Alexandria Robinson, Paperworld Middle East’s show director.

“Whether a wholesaler or distributor, a corporation or commercial end-user, a buyer of corporate gifts or an owner of toys, baby and kids stores, there is really something for everyone at Paperworld Middle East.  We’re continuing to leverage the synergies of different industries to offer our exhibitors and visitors more networking opportunities.”

Returning regular exhibitors to Paperworld Middle East 2019 include UAE-based manufacturers Farook International Stationery and Capital Envelopes, while spearheading the international charge are the likes of The Navigator Company and Bi-Silque from Portugal.

Others include Italian companies Carioca, and Stilolinea, while Mitsubishi Pencil, Pilot, Shachihata, and Zebra will all return from Japan.  The international appeal of Paperworld Middle East 2019 will be further underlined by country pavilions from Germany, Korea, and a debut pavilion from Sri Lanka. – TradeArabia News Service