Paperworld Middle East 2018 concluded its three-day run in Dubai in top form once again, with thousands of trade buyers stopping by the region’s dedicated trade fair for the paper, stationery, and office supplies industries.
The 8th edition of the annual exhibition welcomed 7,004 visitors from more than 90 countries at the Dubai World Trade Centre, while 303 exhibitors from 42 countries presented their latest wares in a regional market hungry for new ideas and business solutions.
Sharing centre-stage on the show floor were dozens of product launches and new partnership announcements, while the digital world, corporate gifts, leather items and children’s lifestyle products were among the topics presenting a whole new world of potential business opportunities.
“Most of the visitors this week are distributors of office supplies and they’re really interested in our products, particularly the UAE-made items, and that’s exactly what we wanted,” said Mohamed Alayat, Managing Director of Alpha Art Gifts, adding that visitors had come from across the Middle East and Africa, including Ghana, Saudi, Kuwait, and the UAE.
Paperworld Middle East 2018 featured country pavilions from Germany, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Pakistan, while the UAE contingent was as strong as ever, with the 31 local exhibitors on-board headed by Farook International Stationery, Capital Envelopes, NGR Paper, Hoshan Pan Gulf, and Party Camel.
Among the returning popular features to Paperworld Middle East 2018 was the Green Room, featuring ethically produced and environmentally friendly office supplies; and Wrap Star, the UAE’s only gift wrapping competition, won this year by Maria Fatima from Harvey Nichols. Second and third places went to Jayann Rafael and Rejoice Marayag respectively, who both represented Kiddy Zone.
A two-day seminar programme was also introduced on the final two days of the exhibition, where industry professionals were kept up-to-date on the latest trends including a special focus on the Africa, and an overview of the Middle East office print market.
David Connett, industry veteran and partner at Connett & Unland GbR, had the honour of becoming Paperworld Middle East’s inaugural speaker; he delivered a well-received seminar entitled ‘Why remanufacture?’, in which he examined and explained the benefits of remanufacturing across a variety of industry sectors. Connett also delivered a second seminar on the final day of the show, sharing his insights on the Middle Eastern market, key OEMs and aftermarket figures, the synergy between faster Internet and market expansion, and more.
The 9th edition of Paperworld Middle East will return in March 2019, offering another one-stop-shop for trade buyers and professionals sourcing inspiration and the latest industry supplies, from office supplies, leather goods, corporate gifts, school articles, toys and games, creative materials and party supplies.
