This was stated by UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri after the inauguration of Arabplast 2013, the Middle East’s premier trade show for rubber, plastics and petrochemicals, in Dubai on Monday.
Al Mansouri lauded the growth of the industrial sector reflected in the strong contribution of petrochemicals and down-stream products to the economy. “Petrochemicals, aluminium and steel are key pillars behind the growth of the country’s industrial sector,” the minister added.
He stressed the importance of plastics and petrochemicals industry as the UAE has made remarkable growth in the production of raw materials and in adopting best technologies and practices from countries like Germany, Austria and Japan.
The minister said that petrochemicals play an effective role in bridging the import-export imbalance between the UAE and countries in North America and Europe, as the UAE can give greater emphasis to export of petrochemicals.
He acknowledged that the Gulf countries have invested billions of dollars in the petrochemical industry and what is required today is to export these products to the right countries. He also said that the UAE was emerging as a key player in exporting know-how to different countries in the world.
Al Mansouri said that Gulf countries and the UAE have high potential to grow their industrial sector, due to high availability of the raw materials which can be exported to other industrial countries for converting into end-user products. He also emphasised that there were great opportunities for UAE nationals to work in the industrial industries in technical domains as well as marketing and sales and accounting.
The show, co-organised by Messe Düsseldorf Germany and Al Fajer Information and Services, has emerged as No. 1 show in the world for value of onsite machines displayed and in the sales of raw materials.
Arabplast is also ranked as No. 1 show in the region and No. 4 in the world in plastics and petrochemicals, according to Satish Khanna, general manager, Al Fajer Information and Services. Major sponsors for Arabplast 2013 include Qapco, Borouge, Natpet, Petrorabigh and Tasnee. Arabplast 2013 is 34 per cent bigger than the 2011 edition, following greater response from exhibitors and sponsors.
A record number of 900 companies from 41 countries are participating in Arabplast 2013. On display at Arabplast 2013 are new products and technologies in injection moulding, blow molding, wrapping and packaging, pre and post plastic processing techniques as well as raw materials, such as additives and polymers. The show covers a wide spectrum of plastic machinery, plastic/rubber processing technology, pre and post-processing systems, plastic packaging technology, injection moulding, blow moulding, wrapping technology, extrusions, chemicals and additives, semi finished goods, engineering plastics and plastic products.
