The Indian Printing Packaging & Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (IPAMA) had jointly organized the Print Pack Arabia 2014 exhibition at Sharjah Expo Centre, Sharjah from 7 to 10 April 2014. The exhibition was aimed at showcasing the emerging opportunities and technologies. It was a comprehensive sourcing platform for commercial and package printing in the region. It attracted printers, industry professionals, buyers and design agencies from different countries. The exhibition was duly supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
After the opening ceremony, Ahmed Mohammad Al Midfa, chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the media persons and the exhibitors and congratulated IPAMA, which is the apex body of printing packaging and allied industries in India. He expressed hope that the tie-up with IPAMA will help Sharjah to take centre stage in the fast growing printing and packaging industry in the Middle East region and also to successfully complement other exhibitions. The flexible packaging industry in the Middle East and Africa was valued at US$ 4 billion in 2013.
There were 88 exhibitors of which the prominent Indians were ACME Machinery (India), APL Machinery, Five Star Printing Machinery, Pidilite Industries, Tirupati Inks and Zenith International amongst others. The feedback provided by the Expo Centre shows that there were about 5,000 potential buyers from 77 different countries who attended the exhibition. More than 92% of the exhibitors sold their machinery and equipment during the exhibition. Seminars, business conferences, buyer-seller meets were also organized.
The Indian exhibitors reported booking of substantial export orders and were satisfied with the business transacted during the exhibition. Most of the participants showed their willingness to participate in the next Print Pack Arabia exhibition which would probably be in February 2016. IPAMA expects overwhelming response from Indian participants at the next Print Pack Arabia exhibition.
