Regional experts discuss global expansion strategies for paper and stationery brands
Market revenues for paper and paper products in the Middle East and Africa are expected to hit USD16.4 billion by 2030, according to 6W Research
During the panel discussion, the speakers highlighted the importance of product customisation and working with local partners as elements for success
Dubai, UAE: The globalisation of paper and stationery brands in the Middle East and Africa took centre stage today on the opening day of Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The topic was discussed in a session at the Hub Forum titled 'Beyond Borders: The Globalisation of Paper and Stationery Brands in the Middle East and Africa', providing a platform for industry leaders to delve into the unique challenges and opportunities that international brands encounter as they expand into ever-changing and culturally-diverse markets.
Moderated by Nadia Swan, the panel featured a notable lineup of industry experts, including Swapnil Surve, Managing Director of Afro Fusion Group; Naynesh Pasari, CEO of Shree Krishna Paper Mills & Industries; and Parvesh Kapoor, Director of Alia Mohd Trading Co. LLC.
The paper products and stationery industries in the Middle East and Africa are experiencing significant growth, primarily driven by the expansion of the office and education sectors. According to recent figures from 6W Research, market revenues for paper and paper products in the Middle East and Africa are projected to reach USD16.4 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4%.
Commenting on the key factors for the success of paper and stationery brands in the region, Parvesh Kapoor, Director, Alia Mohd Trading Co. LLC, said: 'The Middle East and Africa is a vast region with numerous countries, cultures, and languages. When considering the market, it is essential to focus on brand positioning, pricing, quality, and customised design. There is significant potential in this region for paper and stationery products. Additionally, consumers want their products to be delivered quickly.'
Swapnil Surve, Managing Director, Afro-Fusion Group, added: 'Economies of scale are crucial in international trade; a single brand cannot be efficiently exported to Africa using just a 40-foot shipping container. Dubai serves as a key hub for consolidating products before sending consignments to clients in Africa. This process helps reduce shipping costs and allows us to provide larger quantities of our products to wholesalers and retailers.'
The session underscored the significant potential for international brands in the region, where consumer demand is rising and market growth is accelerating. By sharing real-world strategies and lessons learned, the panel aimed to empower other brands considering expansion to navigate the complexities of these diverse and promising markets successfully.
Addressing the strategies for entering the Middle East and Africa, Naynesh Pasari, CEO of Shree Krishna Paper Mills & Industries, said: 'The buzzword now is sustainability and eco-friendliness. Everyone is looking for a solution where you are able to eliminate a certain aspect of single use plastic. Achieving success in part, depends on the way you are able to bring on a local partner who understands the market and can effectively communicate the value proposition to the customer.'
Other topics addressed at Hub Forum today include 'Future-Forward Sustainability in Logistics Packaging', 'The Art of Corporate Gifting - Middle Eastern Traditions and Trends' and 'Integrating the Best Practices in Paper Manufacturing: Innovations and Opportunities.'
Elsewhere today at Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East, the finalists of the new Battle of the Brushes competition, held in association with Funun Arts, will demonstrate their impressive artistic skills in a live painting challenge.
A total of 17 artists have been selected across four categories for the competition which includes Abstract, Realism, Pencil/Charcoal and Watercolour. The winners will be determined later today by an esteemed panel of judges which includes UAE-based artists Khalil Abdul Wahid, Faisal AbdulQader, Atul Panase and Akbar Saheb.
Paperworld Middle East is the largest international show for paper, stationery, arts and crafts, office supplies and school products. This year's theme is 'Crafting Global Connections', highlighting the event's position as an international hub for professionals in the paper, stationery and office supplies industry.
Part of the Ambiente family, Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East focuses on corporate gifting and complements Paperworld Middle East's profile. Now in its fourth edition, Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East offers a prime opportunity for businesses to discover a wide range of gifting items. The co-located events continue until 14 November at Dubai World Trade Centre.
More information is available at: www.paperworldme.com
About Paperworld Middle East
Paperworld Middle East brings together world-renowned brands, regional players, and promising innovators for an exciting three-day showcase featuring products ranging from office and school supplies, stationery, paper & paper products, to festive decorations and brandable merchandise. The next edition of the show takes place from 12-14 November 2024 at Dubai World Trade Centre, co-located with Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East.
To learn more please visit our website.
About Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world's largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,300 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2023 were more than € 609 million. We serve our customers' business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt's key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
Further information: www.messefrankfurt.com
About Messe Frankfurt Middle East
Messe Frankfurt Middle East's portfolio of exhibitions includes: Paperworld Middle East, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Automechanika Dubai, Automechanika Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Logimotion, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East. In the 2023/24 event season, Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions combined featured 6,324 exhibitors from over 60 countries and attracted 224,106 visitors from 159 countries.
For more information, please visit our website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
Algeria to build two green cement plants
Algeria has launched a project to build two new low-carbon green cement plants with a combined capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per year as part of a drive to expand eco-friendly industries in construction and other sectors. The North African OPEC producer is also expanding an existing cement plant in the Northern Djelfa city by around 1.5 million tonnes of green cement. The new projects will boost the gas-rich country's cement capacity to a record high of around 42 million tonnes per year. Algeria's press reported on Monday that the country's actual cement demand is around 30 million tonnes per year, allowing it to export a surplus of nearly 12 million tonnes. Algerian Minister of Industry Sifi Ghrieb announced on Monday the launching of the two new green cement projects in Djelfa and Relizane in Central Algeria. He said the two plants have an output capacity of around 1.5 million and two million tonnes per year respectively while another nearby cement plant would be expanded by a green cement production line with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes. 'The Minister also announced plans to create a national green cement production council to promote such industries,' Elkhabar and other local newspapers said. Ghrieb did not mention details of these projects nor did he identify the contractor but in March he had discussed plans to expand Djelfa plant with a delegation from the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). Algeria, one of the world's largest gas exporters, is actively involved in the production and promotion of green cement, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cement, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable construction. Companies like Lafarge Algeria are leading the way in this transition, developing reduced-CO2 cement and investing in projects that utilise industrial byproducts for cement production. A new green cement plant, a partnership between Algerian, Emirati, and Indian entities, is under construction in the Northern El Milia city, according to local reports. The plant will utilise slag and fly ash from a nearby power station and steel complex, and it will have a capacity of two million tonnes per year. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Egypt targets self-sufficiency in porcelain products with private sector support
Egypt - Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel Al-Wazir conducted an inspection tour of three specialized factories in the food, building materials, and metal industries located in Obour Industrial City, Qalyubeya. Al-Wazir began his visit at the factory complex of Obour Land for Food Industries, which covers 35,000 square metres and produces 170,000 tonnes of cheese, 70,000 tonnes of sterilized milk, and 50 million litres of juice annually. The company employs over 2,500 workers and exports to more than 33 countries, including the United States, Russia and the Gulf region. In 2024, the company's exports reached $20m. During the tour, the minister visited the sterilized milk and juice plant, inspected the reception tanks and filling machines, and viewed a mini-exhibition of the company's full product range. He also toured the white cheese factory, checking the packing hall's four production lines, cheese lab, Tetra Pak lines and final assembly area. Al-Wazir instructed the ministry's affiliated bodies to verify the safety of raw materials and equipment and stressed the need to double production of white cheese to meet rising local demand. The minister then visited the Royal Ceramica factory, which produces ceramic and porcelain tiles across a 70,000 sqm site with an annual capacity of 15 million sqm. Its products are exported to Europe, the Middle East and the US, and the factory employs 1,665 workers. Al-Wazir toured the product showroom and various production areas, including raw material preparation, drying, glazing, pressing, sorting, and kilns. He praised Royal Ceramica as the only facility in Egypt and the Middle East producing 2 cm and 3 cm thick porcelain tiles suitable for ports, airports and roads, as well as being the first to produce glazed porcelain tiles in sizes up to 60×120 cm. The minister highlighted the factory's sustainable production model, which recycles all water and raw material residues, reducing costs and improving resource efficiency. Al-Wazir directed that tiles for metro station construction projects be sourced locally to support Egyptian industry. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting domestic manufacturers from dumping practices under WTO rules, aiming to lower the import bill and increase local production. He also expressed the ministry's goal for Royal Ceramica to achieve full self-sufficiency in porcelain products for the Egyptian market. Concluding his tour, Al-Wazir visited Obour Metal Industries factory 'Galva Metal,' part of Kandil Steel Group, which spans 46,300 sqm. The group's total investments amount to EGP 3bn, with annual production capacity of 900,000 tonnes of cold-rolled, galvanized and colour-coated steel coils. Products are exported to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the US, and the group employs 1,400 workers. The minister viewed a mini-exhibition of finished products and inspected production lines, including pickling and rolling, grinding, furnaces, galvanizing and the zinc bath. He also toured two multi-slit cutting lines — the first of their kind in Egypt, the Middle East and Africa — designed to produce high-precision steel sheets for the home appliance sector. The €6m investment in these lines was completed in 2024.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Zawya
Egypt outlines roadmap to advance green transition via CBMA policy
Arab Finance: The Egyptian government rolled out plans to develop a roadmap for implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) policy to advance its green transition, according to a statement. Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir and Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat discussed joint efforts to support transition to low-emission industries. This goal will be achieved through financing and technical programs in cooperation with international development partners. The two sides reviewed the latest developments in implementing the Green Sustainable Industries (GSI) program, which provides various financing options, including soft loans and non-refundable grants, to rehabilitate Egyptian factories. They also touched upon the ongoing cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to launch the "NWFE" platform, which represents a strategic tool for attracting green investments in several sectors, most notably the industrial sector. The meeting also discussed a proposal to establish a new national platform similar to the NWFE program, aimed at mobilizing soft financing and international grants to support green industrial transformation projects within the private sector's manufacturing industries. Additionally, the two ministers explored opportunities available in Egypt to benefit from the High-Impact Private Sector Program, one of the flagship programs of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and managed by the EBRD. This initiative aims to support private sector projects in developing countries to cut industrial emissions and accelerate the transition to a green economy through a financing package that includes grants, soft loans, and innovative investment tools. El-Wazir and Al-Mashat highlighted the importance of this program, which aligns with the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), noting that it does not impose any direct financial burdens on the state budget. On his part, El-Wazir directed the formation of a joint technical committee to monitor the implementation of key projects and ensure integration between government initiatives and international financing platforms to achieve results. Meanwhile, Al-Mashat outlined the results of international partnerships in the field of industrial development with various multilateral and bilateral development partners. She stressed that the non-petroleum manufacturing sector witnessed increasing development since the implementation of economic reform measures in March 2024. She indicated that the sector has been leading economic growth rates since the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal year (FY) 2023/2024 and throughout the first nine months of FY 2024/2025. It achieved a growth of 7.1% in Q1, followed by 17.7% in Q2, and 16.3% in Q3. Non-petroleum manufacturing industries contributed the most to growth rates in Q3 of FY2024/2025 at 1.9%, according to Al-Mashat. Through the GSI Program, development partners provided €271 million (EGP 16 billion), including approximately EGP 1.2 billion in grants. The remaining portion in soft financing for the private sector through Egyptian banks will be directed to reduce pollution in the industrial sector, encourage the use of renewable energy, and develop sustainable industrial practices. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
