Qamzi inaugurates Paper Arabia 2012

Paper Arabia 2012, the first-of-its-kind industry expo, was inaugurated by Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of the Department of Economic Development on Monday at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event will continue until Oct.3. The per capita consumption of paper in the UAE is 175 kg, against the global average consumption of 62 kg. The same figure reaches 320 kg in USA. These international industry statistics were released today on the sidelines of the inauguration of Paper Arabia 2012. According to the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association, one of the world’s biggest associations specialising in paper, Middle East countries consumed 19 million tonnes of paper in 2011, and this figure is anticipated to increase into 29 million tonnes in the coming 8 years. The association said that social media and the large dependence on digital technologies are having minimal impact on the consumption of paper in the world and the Middle East region. Al Qamzi said: “The UAE is a key player in the paper industry in the region, which is reflected in the high number of publications and publishing houses across the UAE. Local manufacturers and suppliers of paper are adopting modern solutions and taking the right steps to protect the environment and keeping costs to the minimum.” “The domestic paper industry has also expanded its footprint in the past few years to meet the different requirements of the market as well as competition, by focusing on high quality, which is among the goals upheld by Paper Arabia,” added Al Qamzi. A4 paper captures the lion’s share in the consumption trends in the UAE, according to Suresh Kilam, Executive Director, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), world’s second largest pulp and paper producing company and the largest vertically integrated pulp and paper producer in Asia, excluding Japan. Kilam added: “APP sold more than 700,000 tonnes of paper to the Middle East in 2011 and our sales volumes will touch 1 million tonnes in 2012, valued at $800 Million.” The global production of paper reached 415 million tonne between January 2012 and now. APP produces 14.5 million tonnes of this entire production, out of which one million tonnes is sold to the region. Paper Arabia 2012 will continue with the participation of 125 companies from 20 countries. The UAE is playing an instrumental role in re-exporting paper and tissues to the entire MENA region. It is also a producer of paper with more than 12 factories based in the country. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, which organises the show, said that Paper Arabia has positioned itself as an ideal platform for international companies to target the rapidly growing paper market in the Mena region. From gulftoday