More than 426 local and international exhibitors representing 26 countries their participation in the Saudi Plastics and Petrochemical Industries Exhibition 2018, which concluded last Wednesday evening, January 24, 2018, after a four-day run at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, The opening ceremony was presided over by Eng. Saleh Al-Salmi, Deputy Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, on behalf of His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources. praising the large turnout and the success of the exhibition, which is considered one of the largest and most prominent specialized exhibitions in the Kingdom and the region.
26,000 square meters of exhibition space
The exhibition, which coincided with the 15th edition of the Saudi Printing and Packaging Exhibition 2018, showcased the most prominent and latest opportunities and trends in the local market, The exhibition halls, in addition to the exhibiting companies, were filled with engineers, industrialists, businesspeople, and entrepreneurs eager to explore the latest and most prominent technologies, services, products, machinery, equipment, and supplies within the petrochemical, plastics, printing, and packaging sectors, across an exhibition area of more than 26,000 square meters. The exhibition serves as an opportunity to highlight the latest and most prominent technologies, services, products, machinery, equipment, and supplies within the petrochemical, plastics, printing, and packaging sectors.
On this occasion, Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Sheikh, General Manager of Marketing at «Riyadh Exhibitions Company Limited,» the exhibition’s organizer, said: «The participation of exhibitors from 26 countries reflects the importance and global prominence of this event.»
Chemicals and Plastics… Two-thirds of the Kingdom’s exports
For his part, Mr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Husseini, Executive Advisor at Riyadh Exhibitions Company Limited,the support the exhibition receives from the Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, extending his thanks to His Excellency Minister Khalid Al-Falih for his generous patronage, and said: “We are delighted that the Deputy Minister, Engineer Saleh Al-Salmi, opened the exhibition, which embodies the great attention the wise government pays to such international forums, and this is clearly reflected in the continuous development the exhibition has witnessed over the past years.” Al-Hussein noted that this year’s exhibition brings together all key players in the sector—locally, regionally, and internationally—and features the participation of major plastics and petrochemical companies from the Kingdom and the region, alongside a large number of government industrial agencies from the Arab Gulf states, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the latest developments and innovations in both the petrochemical and printing and packaging sectors.
The petrochemical industry is experiencing remarkable growth, with exports of chemical and plastic products accounting for more than two-thirds of Saudi Arabia’s total industrial exports, and 10 percent of the Kingdom’s total exports.
Boosting Plastics and Petrochemicals Production
The exhibition revealed that the plastics, petrochemicals, packaging, and printing industries have seen significant growth in production capacity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with the “Saudi Vision 2030," and reports indicate that the country is moving toward strengthening integration between refining and chemicals, especially after Aramco and SABIC announced a $20 billion global joint venture for chemical production, which will process 400,000 barrels of oil per day to produce 9 million metric tons of chemicals and base oils annually, and increase the petrochemical sector’s output from $133.33 billion to $453.3 billion by 2030, in addition to boosting non-oil exports from approximately $53.33 billion to $666.66 billion during the same period.
Recent reports have shown that the Gulf chemicals industry has recorded an accelerated growth rate over the past five years; chemical production rose by 5,3%. The increase in production capacity is attributed to the Kingdom achieving an annual production growth of 12,7%. The petrochemical and chemical industries sector in the Kingdom plays a leading role in driving economic transformation and and job creation.
Excellent organization... and informative workshops
The exhibition halls at this year’s event attracted a large turnout of interested parties and visitors, who expressed a desire to engage with exhibiting companies to finalize agreements and complete sales transactions, which underscored the growth of construction and industrial projects, confirming that the economy is moving confidently toward achieving comprehensive development. Visitors to the exhibition benefited from the new and advanced technology and modern machinery presented by the sector, and the well-organized and meticulously planned arrangements for hosting exhibiting companies and the visiting public were highly praised by all, which positively contributed to the smooth flow of traffic within the aisles and halls.
Sponsoring and supporting companies offered educational workshops for visitors and those interested in the field, with the aim of raising awareness of the sector’s characteristics and the surrounding conditions and changes, featuring a number of specialists who shared their expertise with the audience.
Amlak Newspaper .. Sponsorship and attendance by Zahi
In line with its ongoing role in supporting such economic events, "Amlak« newspaper provided specialized sponsorship for the exhibition and made an elegant presence through its distinctive booth, its presence in all halls and pavilions, and its provision of logistical support and media consulting to participating companies, which had a positive impact on exhibitors and visitors alike.
