Abu Dhabi: Paperworld Middle East 2017 got underway in Dubai on Tuesday with 313 exhibitors from 42 countries exhibiting their products including school and gift articles, paper, creative materials, and children’s toys and games.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Butti Saeed Al Kindi, Second Vice-Chairman of Dubai World Trade Centre.
Major global players participating in the show include paper and pulp producers The Navigator Company from Portugal; American-based Melissa & Doug, one of the world’s largest children’s product manufacturers; and German pen-makers Lamy and Schneider.
“Shifting tides in international trade and economic uncertainty over the last 12 months has meant manufacturers of stationery, paper, and office items have had to refocus their export outlook,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Paperworld’s organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East.
“The good news is that growth in the global market is expected to come from regions such as the Middle East and Africa, where demand for paper, office supplies, remanufactured printer materials, and stationery is estimated to be worth US$12 billion by 2019.”
There are six country pavilions from Germany, Italy, China, Taiwan, Egypt, and Pakistan, while 28 UAE companies are also on-board, spearheaded by Farook International Stationery, which exports 10 UAE-made paper and stationery brands to more than 90 countries throughout the world.
