The 14th edition of the Saudi Plastics and Petrochemicals Exhibition and the Saudi Printing and Packaging Exhibition 2017, hosted by the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events, were a huge success this year. The event took place from February 27and March 2, 2017, and recorded more than 8,746 industry professionals from the Kingdom and the region in its visitor log. The exhibition received specialized media coverage from the real estate newspaper Amlak.
14 million metric tons of polymers for annual export
For his part, Engineer Saleh Al-Salmi, Deputy Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, affirmed during the exhibition’s opening that the Kingdom is striving to increase the local manufacturing of petrochemical products, noting that the Kingdom ranks among the top five countries in this field, with annual polymer exports exceeding 14 million metric tons, and more than 3 million metric tons are manufactured in local value-added industries. The Deputy Minister told *Al-Riyadh* that growth rates for the petrochemical industry ranged last year between 7,5% and 8%, while the number of products exceeded 7,000 and the number of large and medium-sized plants surpassed 1,000. He noted that the government is counting on manufacturers to increase production rates in terms of both quantity and quality, and that diligent work is underway to formulate an industrial strategy for the Kingdom that aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the challenges it entails; this strategy may be launched this year
More than 318 companies from 20 countries
This edition of the exhibition in Jeddah was a huge success compared to the previous one, as it was sponsored by the Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, with Diamond sponsorship from SABIC and Platinum sponsorship from Saudi Polymers, in addition to support from the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) as an industry partner, and the participation of more than 318 companies from 20 countries across an exhibition area of 4,200 square meters.
The 14th edition of the Saudi Plastics and Petrochemicals Exhibition and the Saudi Printing and Packaging Exhibition featured the latest and most prominent technologies, services, products, machinery, equipment, and supplies in the petrochemicals, plastics printing and packaging sectors, in addition to a number of workshops led by specialists to highlight the most prominent solutions that contribute to enhancing the performance of these sectors by addressing growing market needs.
107 million riyals in deals at the exhibition
The exhibition witnessed the signing of a number of deals valued at 107 million riyals, with exhibitors and participants expressing satisfaction with their participation in the event, as they achieved their objectives of showcasing their products and services to a specialized audience, as well as attracting opportunities for collaboration between local, Arab, and international companies to boost investment in these sectors, grow their businesses, and exchange expertise and knowledge.
Exhibition visitors expressed great satisfaction with the event’s organization and strong lineup of participants, which proved its success by highlighting rapid, new, and innovative growth in the industry—particularly in the fields of plastics, petrochemicals, printing, and packaging.
January 2018: The exhibition kicks off in Riyadh
Building on this success, preparations will begin for the 15th edition, which will be held in Riyadh from 5 Jumada al-Awwal 1439 AH to 8 Jumada al-Awwal 1439 AH, corresponding to January 21–24, 2018, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
