Exhibitors at Gulf Print & Pack are optimistic about the growth opportunities in the Middle East as the region is expected to outpace global growth.

According to the latest industry forecast, the regional package and printing industry is poised to register a compound annual growth rate of five per cent until 2019, at a value of $52 billion (Dh191 billion).

More than 300 leading local and international suppliers are expected to participate at this year’s edition of the region’s leading business-to-business exhibition for the print and packaging industry to he held from April 13-16 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The event is set to witness exciting launches for key stakeholders.

“The industry is expected to become more robust in the coming years as economies in the Middle East continue to develop and provide growth opportunities for international suppliers,” said Mike Simmonds, event manager at Gulf Print & Pack.

He said that many suppliers have chosen to launch their products in a bid to take advantage of the immense networking potential that the show provides.

Reji Mathew, marketing manager at OKI Middle East, India and Africa, said that the future of the print industry is brilliant, not only for the commercial sector but also for the package printing industry.

Joelle Rayess, chief operating officer at Dubai-based International Distribution Network SAL, said that packaging demand will be driven by higher economic activity and rising real incomes, urbanisation, a relatively young and growing population and the further development of retail infrastructure in several countries in Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

“Used in a wide range of industries across food and beverage, health care, cosmetics and other FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] segments; as well as a range of commercial and industrial sectors, package printing has become an essential item, with its usage growing broadly in line with the growth of the global economy,” she said.

Expo 2020

Vaibhav Kulkarni, product marketing manager at Gluing System, Baumer India, said that the growth prospects could even be brighter for the UAE due to the opportunities that will arise from Dubai’s hosting of the World Expo in 2020.

He sees the entry of end-of-line packaging as a future trend that will play a significant role in increasing package printing capacity across the supply chain to meet the expected growth in demand.

Mathew said that OKI will be displaying the industry’s first five colour A3 digital LED printer. The printer offers affordable spot colour in white or clear gloss UV, at a highly competitive price point, for short-run, digital, print-on-demand performance.

“The new law in the Mena region restricting plastic use is helping us as producers of paper bag making machines to receive new customers willing to move from the plastic to the paper packaging industry,” said Maxim Covali, Marketing and Sales Manager of Somtas.

He said that regulatory restrictions on plastics use will also have a significant impact on suppliers of paper-based products.

“Greater adoption of latest 3D technologies can address many of the challenges facing this industry — high levels of competition and maintaining a balance between aesthetic contemporary design and staying competitive — and let them compete in the global market place,” said Melanie Keeley, Marketing Director, D2M Solutions FZE.

 

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