ORGANISERS of a plastics expo to be held in Sharjah next year have said they will help young entrepreneurs to set up their business in the sector.

The event, Plastivision Arabia, is being organised by Expo Centre Sharjah and the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), the oldest and the largest apex body of the plastics industry in India. It will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from April 7 to 10, 2014.

“At Plastivision Arabia, experienced consultants from AIPMA will assist young entrepreneurs in establishing their plastic manufacturing units,” said Jayesh Rambia, chairman of AIPMA’s Plastivision Arabia 2014 committee.

A HASSLE-FREE MODEL
The regional plastics industry offers a relatively hassle-free business model, given that the region enjoys an advantage in two key components – feedstock and logistics. Feedstock cost is lower in the Gulf owing to its rich oil and gas reserves while the GCC’s closeness to demand clusters – specifically India and China – offers a significant logistic cost advantage, Rambia remarked.

“The plastics business is also less technology- and capital-intensive, which means any layman can venture into plastics manufacturing with minimal investment and technological know-how,” he said.

Al Midfa: GCC governments backing SMEs

SMES CONTRIBUTION BIG
“The number of graduates passing out of our colleges and universities is increasing every year, and it is difficult for the government to provide all of them with employment. It is in this context that GCC governments are supporting and developing small and medium enterprises, resulting in SMEs contributing in a big way to GDP,” said  Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general, Expo Centre Sharjah.

With 60 per cent of the region’s population under the age of 26 and unemployment at 40 per cent, regional governments are looking at further boosting their support to develop the SME sector, he said.

“The UAE has recently enacted a law providing further support to SMEs, while other regional governments are also adopting measures to encourage nationals to enter the sector. The plastics industry, which thrives in the resource-rich region, can be the right launch pad for the enterprising national youth,” said Al Midfa.

He was addressing a press conference along with the partners and sponsors of Plastivision Arabia 2014. Those on the dais also included Dr Asutosh Gor, president, AIPMA, and Rambia.

The launch edition of Plastivision Arabia in 2012 featured 150 exhibitors from 19 countries.

FORTHCOMING EXPO
Plastivision Arabia 2014 will be held along with Arabia Mold, in association with Demat, the organiser of world-renowned EuroMold, the world’s leading fair for mould-making and tooling, design and application development.