RIYADH – Saudi Arabia's printing market – the oldest and the largest in the Gulf – is worth $800 million and grows steadily at a rate of eight percent per annum, recent market studies revealed. The upbeat growth forecast is underpinned by the thriving publishing segment that is responsible for producing an estimated 5.1 million copies of newspapers daily and nearly 2 million copies of magazines in the Kingdom each month. Backed by 10 years of significant success, Saudi Print & Pack 2014, the 11th International Trade Exhibition for Printing & Packaging Technologies, will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC) on Feb. 17-20, 2014. The event has played a pertinent role in the development of the industry by consistently introducing the latest printing technologies, machinery, equipment and supplies to the regional market. The show will be held concurrently with Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2014, the 11th International Plastics & Petrochemicals Trade Fair. The 2014 edition is expected to be bigger with more countries participating for a projected 15 percent event growth, and is set to address the challenges and opportunities in the industries that have emerged as a result of technological innovations in recent years. A wide range of offerings, including prepress equipment, stitching machines, buffing machines, folding and cutting machines, prepress software, digital direct printing techniques, silkscreen printing techniques, audit equipment, paper and printing supplies will be on display. Zeyad Al Rukban, Deputy General Manager at the Riyadh Exhibitions Company, said: “The printing industry in the Kingdom is the oldest and the biggest in the entire Gulf region. The country's economic growth, increasing government expenditure, population expansion, rising cultural and educational activities and the growth in retail all have contributed to intensifying printing, advertising and marketing activities. This in turn has created additional demand for printing equipment and services leading to the overall growth of the industry.” “Today, most governmental organizations have their own printing presses. For instance, the Ministry of Defense alone has 20. The universities and educational facilities have their own publishing arms as well. The demand for cutting-edge products and services is therefore very high. In addition to catering to this demand, Saudi Print & Pack 2014 also advocates the optimal use of technology to boost the industry's productivity,” Al Rukban noted. Organized by the Riyadh Exhibitions Company, Saudi Print & Pack and Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2014 will feature exhibitors from over 27 countries and will be spread over an area of 20,000 square meters. A key highlight of the upcoming event will be the 10 exclusive national pavilions to showcase the potential of the local market. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and The National Industrialization Company (TASNEE), two of the most reputed organizations in the country, have pledged their support for the event as Diamond Sponsors, while Saudi Polymers has been confirmed as the official Platinum Sponsor. — SG
