ArabPlast 2017, the biggest plastics, petrochemicals and rubber industry exhibition in the Mena region, is set to bring together key players and experts in the sector from around the world in Dubai in early January.

The event will be held between January 8 and 10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The previous edition of ArabPlast had seen participation by 906 exhibitors from 41 countries and 27,268 visitors from 119 countries.

“The challenge is getting each time more amplitude and producing larger echoes. We provide a platform for the main players in this industry to showcase their products and to exchange expertise and best knowledge. For the 2017 edition, companies from India, Taiwan and Germany have confirmed their participation with a total number reaching respectively 110, 95, and 70, said Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, the organiser of the event.

“We expect for instance a remarkable contribution of the German companies in the machineries of plastics production category. China that is the key export market for Gulf petrochemicals products will be represented by 175 exhibitors,” he said.

The organisers also expect key participation from industrials in the UAE and other GCC countries. Borouge from the UAE is the principal sponsor of ArabPlast.

“We expect as well an impressive participation by Tansee, our platinum sponsor, and NatPet from Saudi Arabia and Orpic from Oman and Munyajat from Qatar,” added Khanna.

According to the latest report by the Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association (GPCA) titled “Facts and Figures” released during the GPCA forum in November 2016, the petrochemical and chemical industry in the GCC reached production capacity of 144.6 million tonnes in 2015, more than double its levels in 2005.

The GCC chemical industry is a major employer in the region with a workforce of close to 143,000 people, said Khanna.

According to the same source, the most significant growth was that of the local petrochemical consumption which increased by an impressive 10 per cent per annum, indicating the sector’s strong multiplier effect on regional industrial and economic development, he said.

Plastic production in the Gulf is expected to grow at a steady 3.2 per cent until the end of the decade, according to a GPCA study released in January 2016.

The GCC Plastics Industry Indicators 2015 report said plastic production capacity has tripled in the last 10 years in the region, reaching 26.2 million tonnes in 2015, earning $32 billion in revenues.

ArabPlast 2017 will allow exhibitors to display their latest products, solutions and technologies, and showcase ideas to visitors and local authorities, besides enlarging their networks and clients and partners portfolios.    

ArabPlast 2017 will showcase a variety of products and technologies in injection molding, blow molding, wrapping and packaging, pre- and post-plastic processing techniques as well as raw materials, such as additives and polymers.

The show covers a wide spectrum of plastic machinery, plastic/rubber processing technology, pre- and post-processing systems, plastic packaging technology, injection molding, blow molding, wrapping technology, extrusions, chemicals and additives, semi-finished goods, engineering plastics and plastic products. – TradeArabia News Service