The 17th edition of Saudi Plastic and Petrochemicals Exhibition and the Saudi Print and Pack (Saudi PPPP) kicked off under the patronage and the presence of Bandar bin Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. This edition of the exhibition, which runs until January 16, will showcase a series of innovations and creations in the fields of printing, packaging, plastic and petrochemical industries, with an aim to support the economic diversification and prosperity of the Kingdom and all the region. The exhibition is set to witness a wide local, regional and international participation from various sectors of industry as it serves as an ideal platform for companies, distributors, suppliers and various stakeholders, to showcase their products and services. It also enables them to learn more about the latest technologies and services used by the plastic and petrochemical industries, which play pivotal roles in driving the growth of the country's national economy, in conjunction with the Kingdom's assumption of the G20 presidency for the year 2020, to focus on the Business 20 (B20), which aims to build a vital environment to come out with initiatives amid an increasingly challenging business environment characterized by rising protectionism, populism, and raising growth and productivity. Mohammad Al Al-Sheikh, business development director, Riyadh Exhibition Company Ltd, said: "The exhibition is a leading regional and global platform that brings together decision makers, experts, manufacturers and suppliers in the sectors of printing, packaging, plastic and petrochemical industries under one roof. Considered as the most important specialized exhibition at the national level, Saudi PPPP allows the participants to explore the potential of the dynamic sectors in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world, thereby promoting industrial sustainability and the development of trade capabilities and potentials in various related sectors." Al Al-Sheikh further emphasized the importance of the exhibition as it presents an ideal opportunity to explore the potential of these sectors and learn about the investment opportunities available in the Saudi market. The exhibition makes this possible by bringing together hundreds of exhibitors in the Kingdom, and by attracting thousands of visitors including specialists, businessmen, project developers, VIPs and decision makers from various industrial sectors. He pointed out that the exhibition contributes to enhancing the private sector's participation in economic development and in the creation of additional job opportunities for citizens with competencies. Furthermore, he noted that the company has succeeded in presenting an even more successful and exceptional version of the exhibition this year, keeping pace with the growth of dynamic sectors in the Kingdom. Besides, 70 percent of the raw materials exported from Saudi Arabia to all parts of the world are raw materials of petroleum derivatives, and the value of exports of the plastics and chemicals sectors account for about 60 per cent of the non-oil exports to the Kingdom, which owns 67 per cent share of the region's packaging industry, he added. Al Al-Sheikh said: "Through the hosting of this exhibition, we, at Riyadh Exhibition Company Ltd, strive to provide a vital and effective platform for visitors and exhibitors and to facilitate communication channel between them. We also remain committed to assisting them in achieving various milestones for the relevant industrial sectors and shaping current and future trends in the development of environmentally friendly solutions and sustainable mechanisms that contribute to the strengthening of the local economy of the Kingdom and that of various other countries that are participating in the exhibition. In addition, participants will also be able to attend a series of relevant and comprehensive discussions that address issues related to the current challenges facing the industry and demonstrate how to take advantage of the opportunities available in the future." Saudi PPPP 2020 will showcase the most recent innovations and advancements in the fields of printing, packaging, plastic and petrochemical industries and will underscore their pivotal roles in the growth of the national economy. The latest edition of the exhibition will witness the participation of more than 424 exhibitors from 26 countries, spread across eight major international pavilions. It will also allow participants to highlight their brands and market them in the Kingdom, which is a thriving economic destination within the Middle East. The exhibition's agenda included the ‘Saudi Conference of Plastic and Petrochemicals' Tuesday, and the ‘Saudi Conference for Printing and Packaging,' which will be held over two consecutive days, on January 15-16. Saudi Plastic and Petrochemicals Exhibition 2020 and the Saudi Print and Pack 2020 is being held with the diamond sponsorship of SABIC and Advanced Petrochemical Company, supported by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu as the supporting partner of the industry; and the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) as an industry partner. Saudi Industrial Development Fund is the industrial empowerment partner and the Riyadh Chamber is a supporting partner of the exhibition. — SG
