There has a notable rise in demand for personalised, eco-friendly paper and stationery in the Middle East, which is boosting their market, said experts at Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East.
Consequently, the Middle East office stationery supplies and services market size is estimated to increase by $725.04 million by 2027, says a recent report by Technavio.
Customised stationery, like branded pens and notebooks, is a powerful marketing tool and enhances brand image. Meanwhile, the rising preference for eco-friendly stationery, driven by increased environmental awareness among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, is particularly strong in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where customers expect environmentally conscious practices in stationery production.
Market for paper growing
Speaking during the panel session titled “Understanding Middle Eastern Demand for Paper and Stationery” at The Hub Forum during Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East, Ali Haider, CEO, Capital Envelops, highlighted that, contrary to the myth that the use of paper is diminishing, the market in the Middle East is still growing and the paper industry is here to stay.
“Paper, unlike many other products, is an extremely sustainable product as it is fully biodegradable,” he added.
Echoing this sentiment, Nobel Ninan, Founder, Pencil Office Supplies, said: “Regardless of what people say, we have never been able to keep enough stock of paper compared to the orders we receive. The demand for paper and paper products is at an all-time high.”
Imported paper
Given that the GCC region heavily relies on imported paper and stationery goods, an emerging opportunity exists for entrepreneurs to capitalise on manufacturing eco-friendly products for international export. This market presents a promising avenue for local businesses to step in and produce sustainable stationery solutions, meeting global demand while aligning with the increasing preference for environmentally conscious products.
Moderated by Ritesh Gupta, Sales and Marketing Manager, Ittihad Paper Mills, other panelists included Chandan Singh, CEO, Dhofar Global; Murli Ema, Director, Ali Mohd Trading Co. LLC; Samer Sabri Abdelqader, Managing Director, Bolough Almaram Stationary Trading & Al Jazeera Almotakamela.
Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East is expected to welcome more than 10,000 industry professionals from 100 visiting countries looking to embark on a global journey through products presented by 490+ exhibitors from over 40 countries, exploring offerings from thousands of brands. Meanwhile, Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East features exhibitors from 20 countries specialising in corporate gifting across four segments: lifestyle, gift giving, leather goods, and baby and kids.
Cornerstone
“Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East serve as the cornerstone of the region's paper, stationery, office supplies, and art & craft industry trade, fostering innovation, market insights, and global collaborations. Given the region's reliance on imported paper and stationery, these events unlock opportunities for entrepreneurs to pioneer eco-friendly stationery solutions for international export,” said Syed Ali Akbar, Show Director for Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East.
On the agenda tomorrow at The Hub Forum, leading experts from educational institutes will highlight the importance of creating healthy and sustainable practices in the education sector. At the same time, the Executive Think Tank will delve into the fascinating intersection of licensed products and the thriving pop culture phenomenon in the Middle East. Meanwhile, attendees will also gain insights about the power of design strategy at the Women-preneurs panel, featuring industry pioneers from Pret aPapier, Printworks, The Keen Company and iDigitalise.com.--TradeArabia News Service
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