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Middle East Fragrance Summit discusses bridging oriental and international fragrance innovation

Two-day summit begins at The Ritz Carlton - Dubai International Financial Centre

Middle East Fragrance Summit witnesses enthusiastic participation from regional and international industry players

Focus on industry-specific issues and global industry standards

Dubai: The first ever Middle East Fragrance Summit (MEFS), which began in Dubai today, witnessed enthusiastic participation from the fragrance industry worldwide, as leading international and regional players engaged in frank discussions on 'Bridging Oriental and international fragrance innovation.'

The panel discussion which was the highlight of the first day of the conference, focused on the distinct divide between international brands and regionally produced perfumes with an oriental touch. The debate aimed to bridge the gap faced by regional perfumers in marketing their products in developed markets by elaborating on the manufacturing processes of oriental perfumes and emphasising the need to create products in line with international standards. The discussion also explored mutual opportunities for international and regional brands to expand their markets.

More than hundred delegates attended the inaugural summit, which began today at The Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre , Dubai, and is organised by The Fragrance Foundation Arabia (FFA), the Middle East wing of The Fragrance Foundation, the international not-for-profit industry body. Ms Mary Ellen Lapsansky, Vice President, The Fragrance Foundation, USA inaugurated the summit at a glittering ceremony in the presence of leading industry players from the region and beyond.

"There is a deep sense of history associated with the Middle East Fragrance Summit, as it is being held at a time when the world is witnessing a major shift towards the East," said Ms Mary Ellen Lapsansky, highlighting the significance of the Middle East region to the global perfume industry. "The growing economic prosperity in the emerging markets of the GCC, together with increased demand for youth-oriented fragrances and celebrity scents, will drive the growth in the global fragrance market both qualitatively and quantitatively. I congratulate Fragrance Foundation Arabia for taking the lead in recognising this moment and creating a forum that brings together the top international and regional players in the fragrance industry under one roof."

"Across the world, fragrances and perfumes have evolved into a mainstream business in the personal care industry and are today considered essentials, as they contribute greatly towards pride, self-reliance, and confidence. Through this two-day event, we look forward to moving towards a greater sense of integration in the global perfume industry through meeting and discussing common trends and challenges with leading industry players from the region," she added.

The MEFS laid the foundations for future growth in the fragrance sector as discussions focused on crucial issues facing the industry including the need for standardization, educational programmes to support the industry and raising consumer awareness. Leading regional and international industry players discussed the progression and transformation of the global fragrance market with particular emphasis on oriental craftsmanship, changing methods of fragrance creation through the ages and the contribution of packaging to the industry.

"The MEFS has proved to be a strong catalyst to initiate and facilitate dialogue on crucial issues facing the fragrance industry," said Shahzad Haider, Chairman, The Fragrance Foundation Arabia, UAE. "Discussions at the forum enabled us to better understand the perspective of the global industry, while presenting our viewpoints, resulting in a combined move towards greater understanding and integration. More importantly, we were able to outline steps that need to be followed from an industry perspective to ensure the future growth of the regional industry."

International industry experts speaking on the first day of the summit included Ms Mary Ellen Lapsansky, Vice President, The Fragrance Foundation, USA, who spoke at length about the need for informed and knowledgeable industry players who could ensure that the fragrance industry was closely aligned to health, environment and nature.

"The Challenging Strategic Innovation in Global Fragrance Market in Western Europe and the Middle East," was discussed by Dr. Nicolas V.Danila, President, NVD Consultants, France, while Nicholas Graham, CEO, GaiaOne, USA presented an interesting insight into the minds of consumers, explaining why consumers demand greater transparency and clarity. Other international speakers included Pierre Wargnye, International Flavors & Fragrances, France and Sheherazade Foroughi - Chamlou, V.P. Sales & Marketing Perfumery, SGD North America, USA.

The regional fragrance industry was represented on the speaker panel by Shahzad Haider, Chairman, The Fragrance Foundation Arabia, UAE, Abdulla Ajmal, General Manager, Ajmal Perfumes, UAE and Vice President of Fragrance Foundation Arabia (FFA) and Mr. Hussein Adam Ali, Chairman ,Swiss Arabian Perfumes, UAE .

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© Press Release 2011