Emballage eyes Middle East packaging market

PARIS and DUBAI – Emballage 2012 aims to attract more trade visitors from the Middle East, especially the United Arab Emirates, organisers said. The 40th edition of the international packaging event will take place from 19 to 22 November 2012, at the Parc des Expositions in Paris Nord Villepinte.

"Middle-East countries, especially the United Arab Emirates, are among the most important areas for our exhibitors, due to the tremendous development of the packaging trade in this region and a significant demand from local agri-food operators, which is increasingly taking European regulation requirements into account," said Véronique Sestrières, supervisor of the trade fair.

The trade fair will present a comprehensive range of products, from packaging, marking and coding or printing machines to the finished product. Nearly half of the 1,300 exhibitors come from abroad and approximately 89,000 visitors are expected.

Dubai Pavilion

For the second time at this event, Dubai Exports has organised a 'Dubai Pavilion' but with an expanded area of 30 per cent.

"Exhibiting in Emballage 2010 allowed us to develop business contacts with North Africa professionals," said Rami Rabia, Senior Exporter Relations officer of Dubai Exports.

The UAE is positioning itself as a re-exporting hub for packaging equipment in the region. Importations of packaging equipment and machinery (customs nomenclature: 842240) amounted to €14m in 2010 in the Emirates, primarily from Italy (19%), Germany (16%) and the Netherlands (13%). France, in 15th position with 0.8% market share after Belgium and SwitzerlandKobe 11 Mentality