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Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - RIYADH: Gulf Print and Pack 2025 debuted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, highlighting the latest technologies, innovations and sustainable solutions from over 150 exhibitors.

The event is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the region’s printing and packaging industries while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

Event director Barry Killengrey told Arab News that hosting GPP in Saudi Arabia was a long-standing aspiration for the organizers. He said its expansion was made possible by a partnership with Informa Tahaluf, a company with a local presence.

“The GPP event in Dubai runs every two years, so this was a timely fashion where we could effectively have one event each year,” he said. “So 2025 was a focus on Saudi Arabia, especially as it aligns with the country’s goal to replace imports with domestic production.”

The event seeks to encourage collaboration and innovation within the commercial printing and packaging sectors, particularly in developing markets like Saudi Arabia. Killengrey said it created vast opportunities across the printing and packaging spectrum.

“In such markets, industries are more fluid compared to the highly specialized and consolidated markets in developed regions,” he explained, adding that commercial printers might move into packaging, and packaging converters might also have a commercial print business.

This isn’t just about showcasing technology. It’s about creating opportunities, driving growth and shaping the future of an industry that is vital to the region’s economic development.

Barry Killengrey, Gulf Print and Pack 2025 event director

“These industries are highly entrepreneurial and tend to seize faster-growing opportunities,” he said.

Killengrey also highlighted the crossover between packaging machinery and printing operations.

“For instance, co-packers often print their own packaging materials, and brand owners or specifiers seek events where they can explore a wide range of machinery applications and market opportunities,” he told Arab News.

The next generation was also creating a much better appetite for longevity in printing and sustainability. Whether it was direct mail, menus or advertising, a focus on sustainable products was key, he added, acknowledging the challenges faced by global brands — particularly in the food and beverage industries — to adopt sustainable practices.

Killengrey said the expo addressed these by emphasizing innovation, design, shorter production runs and the use of diverse, environmentally friendly materials.

He added rapid advancements in digital printing and packaging technologies were expected to grow significantly over the next five to 10 years.

The event also features innovations in digital embellishment, automation and pre-and post-press workflows, offering attendees insights into the latest capabilities in flexible packaging, plate-making, cutting machines, folding machines, and corrugation technologies.

Digital technology is a key theme for the event, emphasizing their transformative potential for the industry.

“This isn’t just about showcasing technology,” Killengrey said. “It’s about creating opportunities, driving growth and shaping the future of an industry that is vital to the region’s economic development.”