Six of the region’s petrochemical giants have confirmed their sponsorship of an upcoming major plastics trade fair and the concurrent global conference for plastics conversion conference in Sharjah.

Plastivision Arabia and the International Conference for Plastics Conversion-GPCA-PlastiCon 2014 are scheduled to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from April 7 to 10.

The sponsoring firms include UAE’s Borouge, Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat), and Saudi Arabia’s Sahara Petrochemical, Saudi International Petrochemical Company's (Sipchem), National Industrialisation Company (Tasnee), and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic).

“The biennial Plastivision Arabia had one of the best launches for any show in the region in 2012 – it registered a record number of pre-registered visitors, excellent exhibitor response and good visitor turnout. This grand success was courtesy the emergence of the Middle East region as a key player in the global petrochemicals and plastics industry,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

“The rise in the number of sponsors from just one for the launch edition in 2012 to about six (and growing) for the second Plastivision Arabia shows the impact the event has made with just one edition. Borouge was the Platinum Sponsor in 2012, while we already have six, including Borouge, for this year,” Midfa added.

The addition of the International Conference for Plastics Conversion (PlastiCon 2014) to Plastivision Arabia in association with industry body Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) has also played a key role in attracting leading establishments to support the event.

“By focusing on the growth of plastics conversion both globally and in GCC countries and highlighting the key role of innovation in market and product development, the fifth GPCA PlastiCon will be a significant event for the regional industry and add great value to Plastivision Arabia,” said Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, secretary general, GPCA.

GPCA PlastiCon 2014 will also feature the GPCA Plastics Excellence Awards, which will recognise excellence in plastic conversion innovation.

These premier industry events come at a time when GCC’s petrochemical exports are expected to hit a record high this year with the WTO Bali Package set to come into effect. The agreement will make it easier to trade with the developed world, which can lead to a surge in exports from the GCC that stood at 172 million cu m in 2012, equivalent to 75 per cent of its output and valued at $52.7 billion, according to latest reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, exports of plastics from the UAE grew by 127 per cent ($2.2 billion) from H1 2011 to H1 2012, eight times larger than the growth rate achieved during the whole of 2011.

Plastivision Arabia is organised in association with the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), the oldest and the largest apex body of the plastics industry in India.

As in the past edition, the tie-up with AIPMA will facilitate impressive participation from India, while the show has already received good bookings from China, Iran, Pakistan, Portugal, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE and UK among others.

Visitors can expect to see plastic raw materials, plastic packaging machinery & technology, equipment & services, primary processing and auxiliary equipment, equipment for pre-processing recycling, post-processing machines, machinery and plant for finishing, decorating, printing, marking & ancillary equipment.

The second Arabia Mold and the inaugural Print Pack Arabia exhibition and conference will be held alongside Plastivision Arabia. – TradeArabia News Service