Printing and Publishing Group (PPG)-Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it is intensifying its campaign to raise the level of quality of newspapers throughout the Gulf .

This will sustain the annual 15-20 per cent growth posted by the UAE’s printing industry in recent years in particular, the duo said.

PPG will increase regional awareness on the strong performance of newspapers compared to other media and their numerous benefits as advertising channels.

It will also further promote the trend towards heatset printing among Middle Eastern newspapers and its increasing use in SC (Super Calendar) and LWC (Light Weight Coated) material.

The technology meets the high-quality requirements of demanding advertising customers.

'Even with the rising popularity of the internet and other media such as radio and TV, the printing and publishing sectors continue to maintain significant patronage.  The explosive growth of various industries such as IT, tourism, and real estate and construction continues to make newspapers in particular a strong, easily deliverable medium not only for general information but targeted marketing and advertising as well.

'Industry experts and observers expect even more expansion for this sector in the coming years,' said Ahmed Al Sheikh, managing director, Modern Printing Press.

Studies show that the UAE printing industry will attain a 15-20 per cent growth over the next three years as indicated by elevated newspaper circulation and print advertising spending.

Similar growth trends are being observed throughout the Gulf region, thus motivating PPG to broaden the scope of its printing and publishing campaign and maintain the sectors' reliability as an accessible and effective information and promotional tool.

'The PPG's initiatives serve as vital platforms to affirm the vibrancy of our industry.

'Our region is renowned for maintaining sight of tradition and national identity as it strives for sustained progress; the printing media, particularly newspapers, have played an important part in monitoring the region’s growth, so it will continue to maintain a strong loyalty.

'What the PPG is doing is taking the role of this medium to a higher level, which benefits not only our industry but various other fields as well, and ultimately, the region,' concluded Tarek Jawharji, CEO, Color Lines Group.

Another industry-supportive program implemented by the PPG under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the annual Dubai Print Award.

This award was established to provide print and publishing businesses a venue for benchmarking and creating a culture of quality and excellence.

The second edition of the competition held last January 2008 expanded its coverage to include the whole Gulf region. - TradeArabia News Service