23 February 2016
To step up relations with Indian partners of ongoing plastics & packaging shows

Sharjah - Expo Centre Sharjah, which is organising an ongoing multi-industry event in association with its Indian partners, is looking to take advantage of the paradigm shift in ties between the UAE and India.

The recent visit of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and later by H.E. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future, has laid a clear roadmap for deeper cooperation between the countries.

"The recent exchange of visits between the UAE and India has taken the bilateral relationship between the UAE and India in several areas to new strategic heights. At Expo Centre, we are extremely excited about this. We already have strong ties with our Indian partners and the fresh momentum will help us to take it to a new level," said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

Sheikh Mohammed's first state visit to India came at the invitation of H.E. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, who visited the UAE in August 2015, during which the UAE and India agreed to elevate their friendly relationship to a strategic partnership.

The ongoing 3rd  Plastivision Arabia and 2nd Print Pack Arabia are being held in association with the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), and the Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers' Association (IPAMA), respectively.

On Tuesday (Feb 23, day two of the shows, Expo Centre also hosted the 'Investing in India Summit', which was addressed by Mr. RK Agarwal, President, AIPMA, and featured presentations by Shurooq, Indian partner states Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, and was attended by H.E. Shri Amar Agarwal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, State Government of Chhattisgarh, India.

"Our trade relations date back thousands of years, and I am happy to note that we spotted the strength of the plastics and printing & packaging industries of India long ago, and chose to partner with the apex bodies of the industries to launch Plastivision Arabia in 2012 and Print Pack Arabia in 2014," said Mr. Midfa.

The 3rd Plastivision Arabia, 3rd Arabia Mold and 2nd Print Pack Arabia got under way at Expo Centre Sharjah on Monday(Feb 22) and will continue until Thursday (Feb 25).

The tie-ups with AIPMA and IPAMA, the apex bodies of the plastics and printing & packaging industries in India, have also helped Expo Centre in developing and maintaining synergies with the Indian business community in the UAE and the region.

During Sheikh Mohammed's visit, nine agreements were exchanged between the UAE and India, covering cyber security, infrastructure investment, renewable energy, space exploration, insurance, culture, skill development, trade and business, and a currency swap arrangement.

The two sides also reaffirmed their resolve to work together to substantially increase trade by 60% over the next five years as agreed during Prime Minister Modi's visit. The UAE-India bilateral trade stands at US$60 billion, and is projected to hit US$100 billion by 2020.

The shows will be open for trade visitors only from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Admission is free for Trade and Professional visitors.

-Ends-

About 3rd Plastivision Arabia 2016:
Plastivision Arabia 2016 will be organized by Expo Centre Sharjah, in association with All India Plastics Manufacturers Association, and the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from February 22 to 25 in 2016, displaying raw materials and machinery for key segments such as plastic processing, injection molding, thermoforming, packaging, industrial users, construction, infrastructure, automobile and telecommunication, among others.

About 3rd Arabia Mold 2016:
The 3rd Arabia Mold will be held in association DEMAT, the organizer of world-renowned EuroMold, the world's leading fair for mold-making & tooling, design and application development. It will feature mold-making tools, filtration instruments, welding equipment, cooling systems and other related industrial machines and accessories.

About 2nd Print Pack Arabia 2016:
The 2nd Print Pack Arabia will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from February 22 - 25, 2016. It will be organized jointly by Expo Centre Sharjah and Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers' Association (IPAMA) and supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It will showcase digital printing technology, inks, coatings & varnishes, offset printing technology & machinery, packaging machinery & materials, plates and platemaking equipment, press room handling equipment, print finishing/binding equipment, and printing equipment, machinery & materials, among others.

© Press Release 2016