Gulf Print and Gulf Pack expecting record attendance

With two innovative additions to the 2009 shows

The 2009 edition of Gulf Print and Gulf Pack will be the biggest yet, and will feature two innovative new concepts, says Sue Rothwell, Group Event Director at Fairs & Exhibitions, the company staging the dual event to be held at Dubai’s Airport Expo from April 6th to 9th.

Gulf Print attracts key international suppliers of printing machinery, printing and publishing software and ancillary equipment, whilst Gulf Pack is the only packaging event for the entire region and is targeted at packaging machinery manufacturers who want to present their products to the dynamic Middle East market.

“The last edition of the dual event was held in Dubai two years ago and it was a resounding success with over 40 per cent more visitors attending than the previous shows before that – equating to well over 12,000 people,” Rothwell says; “and the good news is that even despite the much documented economic downturn across the globe, the signs of positive growth are everywhere.

“Dubai’s fundamentals as a regional hub of shipping, services, people, trade and capital have not changed and this is reflected in the number of delegates expected to attend the two shows this year. Already, the number of exhibitors has increased yet again, rising by eight per cent with 230 exhibitors in Gulf Print and 285 at Gulf Pack. Those exhibitors have come from 41 countries across the globe – an 11 per cent increase on the 2007 shows.

“Gulf Pack and Gulf Print are, by their very nature, international in Outlook,” continues Rothwell, “reaching out across the Middle East and targeting territories further field such as north Africa and the Maghreb, Turkey and even India and Pakistan. Unlike many mature markets in Europe, the Middle East’s Newspaper and printing industries are flourishing, The introduction of initiatives such as the International Media Production Zone attracts publishers to the area, where currently Dubai is the epicentre of magazine production in the region.

“At the same time, the rise in the region’s GDP is reflected in a rise in demand for FMCG products and pharmaceuticals, both of which are attracting some of the world’s leading brands to the area, and this in turn is fuelling a boom in digital and wide format printing.”

The 2009 dual event will include several new features including the Thought Leadership Conference, featuring industry experts from the global printing and packaging industries, and the Label Summit Middle East, reflecting the rapid development of label technology in line with the growth of the packaging market in the Middle East.

“The Thought Leadership Conference programme will address the key issues across the industries with a number of stimulating seminars, workshops and conferences, addressing a range of industry-related topics,” continues Rothwell.

“The plenary sessions, case studies and workshops are aimed at all aspects of the business of print and packaging. From marketing through to colour management, newspapers through to labels, we expect this informative seminar and workshop programme to raise the global industry debate with key industry speakers addressing the latest issues, and in turn pulling in decision makers from across the region to hear about the latest developments and business opportunities.

“The Label Summit is a response to the wealth of opportunity developing in the region, and is a combination of exhibits housed in a special Label Summit pavilion, together with conference streams running in the Thought Leadership Conference. The growth and potential for all companies involved within the Middle East labelling market is plentiful. With an economy driven by the growth in retail, pharmaceutical, logistics, and food and beverage, the implications for the industry are clear.

“Add to this the developments underway at Dubai Logistics City, which will place Dubai at the heart of both the Middle East and the Global logistics network, and the potential is even greater. So the Label Summit Middle East has been designed to allow suppliers to gain easy entry into the market and for printers and designers to hear and learn of the opportunities and technology available to develop their businesses,” she concludes.