Dubai World Trade Centre begins season with gifts industry show

Dubai:  Following the Dubai World Trade Centre's strong first-half results, welcoming over 630,000 visitors — a 13 per cent increase over 2009 — anticipation is high for the start of the new exhibition season.

DWTC's global calendar of events begins today with five specialist shows covering diverse sectors including paper, pool and spa, and corporate gifts.

Held between today and Tuesday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), these events are playing an important role in driving distinct business visitor traffic to the region, reinforcing the strength of Dubai as the regional business hub, the organisers said.

The Paper Arabia 2010, Middle East Pool and Spa 2010, Clean 2010, Gifts and Premium Dubai and Private Label Middle East begin today.

Supporting the growing paper and tissue industry in the region, Paper Arabia 2010, organised Al Fajer Information and Services, provides a gateway to the entire Middle East and North African paper industry and provides a boost to the UAE's paper production industry estimated at $27 million (Dh99.3 million) in 2009.

Platform

Middle East Pool & Spa 2010, organised by REED Exhibitions, focuses on state-of-the-art technologies and know-how in pool construction, providing networking opportunities in the most dynamic spa market in the world with an estimated value of $10 billion per year.

Also organised by REED Exhibitions, the Middle East Cleaning Exhibition 2010 (CLEAN 2010) is the only regional platform dedicated to gathering international players from the global cleaning and environmental hygiene industry.

The first Middle East Cleaning Forum is held alongside CLEAN 2010, attracting leading global experts and brands from across the world to highlight trends and innovations in the regional cleaning industry.

Gifts and Premium Dubai, organised by Channels Exhibitions, is the annual meeting place for those in the gift market in the region, presenting opportunities to explore new ventures in an industry currently worth approximately $3 billion.

Unique opportunity

Also organised Channels Exhibitions, Private Label Middle East-Dubai, the region's exclusive international consumer goods, private label and contract manufacturing exhibition, offers creators and developers the unique opportunity to liaise with manufacturers, distributors and retailers to explore new ideas and partnerships.

Helal Saeed Al Merri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre said: "Dubai is the regional location of choice for the world's leading businesses to meet and network. Our success in attracting exhibitions across a range of industries, as demonstrated in the shows ..., is testament to Dubai's position as a leading exhibition and conference destination. Our robust calendar of events, including the upcoming 30th anniversary of Gitex Technology Week, highlights the market's positive outlook which continues to drive economic growth into the region."

Later this year, DWTC will host over 30 world class exhibitions, including Cityscape, Dubai International Jewellery Week, Seatrade, Index, Big Five, and the 30th Anniversary of Gitex Technology Week.

Call for expansion of paper industry

Dubai: Nearly 70 per cent of paper consumed by offices in the UAE is imported, according to organisers of Paper Arabia 2010.

This was revealed at a press conference held yesterday to announce the start of the third edition of the show, the first-of-its-kind industry expo being held from today to Tuesday at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. Paper Arabia 2010 features 115 companies from 25 countries.

Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, said: "Investors should look into investing more into producing office paper to meet the rising demand that is currently met largely through imports.

"The show embraces not only paper industry but also tissue and converting industries which are witnessing tremendous growth. The UAE has the potential to emerge a leader in this fast-growing industry," said Khanna.

Industry figures show that the production of paper packaging and tissues crossed 2 million tonnes in 2009.