Riyadh Exhibitions Company facilitates new networking channel between international vendors and local printing companies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 14, 2011 -- December 14, 2011

Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC), a leading trade exhibition organizer in the Middle East, yesterday (Tuesday, December 13, 2011) gathered key printing industry players from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and organizers of Drupa 2012, the International Printing Trade Fair, for a special conference at the Four Seasons hotel in Riyadh, KSA. REC hosted the conference in line with efforts to strengthen communication channels between Germany and KSA businesses.

Attended by representatives from more than 45 leading Saudi enterprises, the conference was organized to help local companies identify and maximize business opportunities presented by Drupa 2012, the International Printing Trade Fair taking place from May 3 to 16, 2012 at the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Held once every four years, Drupa is the biggest international trade fair for the printing industry. More than 1,800 international companies from over 50 countries have already confirmed participation at this year’s event, which will occupy 19 exhibition halls. Drupa 2012 will focus on emerging trends in the global printing sector, including digitization and automation, innovative printing, marketing solutions, dynamic publishing, print automation, digital imaging and green printing.

“Drupa has been the networking platform of choice of global industry players including vendors, heads of publishing houses, manufacturers, and senior marketing and communications executives. REC has therefore been encouraging Saudi companies to capitalize on Drupa’s extensive international participation to enhance their networking potential and competitiveness in the global markets. Moreover, Drupa is strategically important for printing companies in KSA and the region as Asian markets hold over 32 per cent of Germany’s printing exports,” said Mohammed Al Hussaini, Deputy General Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Germany has achieved remarkable growth, with the Kingdom remaining one of Germany’s most important trading partners in the MENA region. German exports to Saudi Arabia reached over 4.2 billion Euros from January to August 2011, representing over 20 per cent of total German exports to MENA countries. German imports from KSA are also on the rise reaching over 473 million Euros in the same period. REC has pointed out the growing trade activities between the two countries to underline the strategic importance of Drupa 2012 and the opportunities it presents to Saudi companies.

Building on the huge participation in its previous edition in 2008, which was attended by over 390,000 trade visitors from 140 countries and 1,971 exhibitors from 52 countries, Drupa 2012 is again expected to attract a large number of visitors and trade exhibitors during its two-week run.

REC has organized more than 330 international exhibitions over the last 25 years, all of which have been certified by UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry. It oversees around a dozen international exhibitions annually and has attracted participation from over 40 countries. REC also promotes various international events, such as Drupa, that support the growth of KSA’s key economic sectors.