The Middle East’s signage and graphics industry is set for a period of sustained expansion, predicted to record 20 percent annual growth over the next five years as the region's countries diversify economies and become less dependent on oil revenues. New products on the market are expected to drive the demand for outdoor advertising solutions, requiring signs, banners and billboards.
Saudi Arabia’s Obeikan Saint-Gobain believes that as Middle East states implement non-oil based projects the demand for signage will increase sharply, and it is thus gearing up to meet increased regional demand by expanding its Riyadh headquarters operations. “The region will have major growth from non-petroleum sources and these will require advertising,” said Charles F Boyle, Executive Director, Obeikan Saint-Gobain.
“The Middle East is the corner stone of the company’s strategic plan and as the only local supplier of wide format flexface material our sales plan is focused on the region,” said Boyle. Obeikan Saint-Gobain, a joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Obeikan Investment Group and Saint Gobain of France, plans to launch its wide-format, mesh flexface machine at the Sign & Graphic Imaging trade show, at the Dubai World Trade Center, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from January 22-24.
“Throughout the Middle East this sector is growing at nine percent a year and in Dubai alone the industry is recording an annual growth rate of five percent, making the region an excellent market, not just for sign makers but also for component manufacturers,” said Mohammed Falaknaz, Vice Chairman, International Expo-Consults (IEC), organizers of the show. — (menareport.com)
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