The Middle East region's printing industry is forecasted to touch $20 billion by 2016, while the packaging market is growing at the rate of 5 to 15 percent year-on-year, according to organizers of a major printing and packaging event. There is a huge market potential for growth especially in the GCC where Saudi Arabia controls more than 70 percent of packaging market which is expanding by 15 percent each year, said a statement. The 13th edition of the Saudi Print & Pack, an international trade exhibition for printing and packaging technologies, will be held on Jan. 18-21, 2016, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Saudi Arabia. Under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the show is organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company and approved by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition industry. As the kingdom's number one trade fair for the print, pack and sign media industries, it will showcase brand new formats and cross-media concepts through a display of the latest equipment and supplies for the Middle East's largest and most diverse printing and packing market, said the statement. The event will also be an ideal platform for negotiating with local companies to establish manufacturing bases in the Saudi Arabia to leverage on-going development, it stated. The exhibitors will be able to gain first-hand knowledge about the opportunities in the Saudi Arabian market as well as network with key industry figures from the public and private sectors. The event would also help companies increase the volume of their Saudi exports to keep up with the latest developments in order to continue on the path of expansion, it added. Visitors will be able to discover the latest technologies, equipment and services offered by leading global manufacturers and at the same time learn first-hand about innovations, trends and sustainable solutions. It is also a gateway to establish direct communication with hundreds of exhibitors and visitors to identify business needs and future possibilities. The event will be attended by diplomats and high-ranking government officials, engineers, industrialist, retailers, traders, and wholesalers, to name a few. Saudi Print & Pack has steadily raised the standard of the printing and packaging industries over the last 12 shows and the latest edition will have the participation of 512 companies from 26 countries, including 10 international pavilions in a 15,000 sqm exhibition area. The exhibitor profile at Saudi Print & Pack 2016 comprises design and printing services; folding and cutting machines; large format printers; paper and printing supplies; consumer goods canning and packaging; food packaging equipment; plastic furniture; packaging supplies; billboards and plates and electrical signs; and graphic imaging, among others. To be held concurrently with Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2016 – the 13th International Plastics & Petrochemicals Trade Fair, Saudi Print & Pack 2016 is supported by leading companies of the kingdom. The National Industrialization Company (Tasnee) and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) are diamond sponsors and Saudi Polymers are the platinum sponsors, it added. — SG
