Domestic paper production in the Middle East has grown in recent years but has still to catch up with demand. The region imports 62 per cent of its requirements, figures show. The paper market is around 8 million tonnes annually but only 3 million tonnes is supplied locally leaving the remainder to be imported.

Domestic supply has grown significantly, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Paper Arabia 2009, a three-day event to be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from October 27 to 29, will focus on the region’s $3.5 billion paper industry. 

Al Fajer Information and Services, which is organising the show for the second year, says the Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for the paper industry.
 
Opportunities
Paper Arabia 2009 will bring together players from the paper, tissue and converting industry. This show offers opportunities to manufacturers and suppliers of finished products, equipment, machinery, paper tubes and cores and paper chemicals, among other things, said Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services.
“Paper Arabia 2009 comes at a time when Dubai is emerging as a hub for the papers industry not only in the Middle East but also beyond. This industry is worth $3.5 billion in the Middle East where the UAE alone accounts for 30 per cent of that,” he said.

Khanna added: “The debut industry expo, Paper Arabia 2007, was highly successful with trade visitors surpassing expectations. Significantly, the show brought into the limelight the regional paper industry and the need to meet the local demand.”

Paper Arabia, with more than 140 exhibitors from 25 countries from across the world expected to take part, will be a key platform for traders and industry players to interact. The show’s participants include leading global names from the UAE, Italy, Jordan, France, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Germany, India, the USA and the UK. 
Khanna expected more than 5,000 trade visitors to attend the event.