An impressive line-up of sponsors and judges are backing Dubai Print Award 2007.

This was announced by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Printing and Publishing Group (PPG) yesterday (December 17) in Doha, Qatar at a media gathering.

The media gathering was part of a region-wide initiative to create greater awareness of the expanded coverage of the award, which now includes the whole GCC region and not just those working in the UAE's printing and publishing sector, said an official spokesman.

A large turnout of representatives from Qatar’s printing and publishing community attended the event, which underlined the Dubai Print Award contribution to best-practices in the industry.

"Qatar plays an important role in the development of the region's printing and publishing sector. The country has a very dynamic economy, a key element that will open more exciting opportunities for industry players in the region. Moreover, by expanding the coverage of Dubai Print Award, PPG has also provided a spotlight on the vast potential of other high-growth markets across the GCC," said CEO, Colour Lines Group and vice-chairman of PPG Tarek Jawharji.

Organised under the patronage of Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Print Award 2007 will bestow gold, silver and bronze awards in a total of 21 categories, including the debuting Bahrain Award, Kuwait Award, Oman Award, Qatar Award, KSA Award and UAE Award.

The second edition of the annual event, which will be held on January 15, 2008, at the Grand Hayatt Hotel in Dubai is being supported by ‘Masar Printing & Publishing’ as a platinum sponsor, as well as print media solutions provider Heidelberg as a gold sponsor.

Silver sponsors include HP, Dynagraph, Prestige Graphics, and Giffin Graphics, while bronze sponsors are Printograph-India, Bobst, Gimpex, Xerox, Orchid Paper Trading, and Gulf Commercial Group. Khaleej Times is the official media partner, while Crystal Gallery is the official trophy supplier.

Dubai Print Award 2007 has also tapped into the expertise of a diverse and elite six-person panel of judges. The group includes Thomas Kuen, department head for print finishing of Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V.; Nicholas R Jung, scheme director of London College of Communication; Karl Kowalczyk, vice-president for print media centre of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG; Daniel Siegel, technical services manager of UPM – Kymmene Sales GMBH; Georges Abyad, proprietor of Georges Abyad Four Plus; and Hemant Ranadive, production head of FCB Ulka India.- TradeArabia News Service