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Dubai - 14th January 2003

Iranian visitors have been highly impressed with the PrinTech expo' organised by Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E) in Dubai. Pictured are (from left): Dominic McGill (F&E), Mohammed Reza Sayar (Iran), Farei Alamdari (F&E), Ali Pureyan (Iran) and Sharla Hancock (F&E).

Dubai- Iran is the "sleeping giant" of Middle East printing, an expert said at the leading industry expo' PrinTech in Dubai. Farei Alamdari, managing director of ATI BIN Printing and Publishing of Tehran, says Iran's domestic printing output is "huge" and the country is now actively seeking as much work as possible beyond its shores.

Alamdari says Iran boasts state-of-the-art technology across the spectrum of printing, publishing and packaging. He says the quality of work in Iran is equal "to anywhere" and there are substantial costs to be saved by dealing with the republic. ATI BIN is one of more than 60 Iranian companies that has made the trip to the PrinTech expo' at the Dubai World Trade Centre to see what is on offer. Iranian Government officials are also part of the large contingent at PrinTech which closes on Wednesday night. Mohammed Reza Sayar, who represents the interests of a number of Iranian printing outlets, says "everyone is looking for new technology to take back to Iran to give them that competitive edge"."It's all about new machines and new markets," he says. "The place to come to see the best technology and facilities is Dubai. It sets the standards in the Middle East and this superb expo' mirrors that quality."

Iran prints 200 million school textbooks a year as well as 70 million books for general readership. The country has more than 700 newspaper and magazine titles and over 2,500 printing companies. The massive textbook tally is due to the domestic schools' requirements being bolstered by Iranian schools all over the world, particularly in the UAE, England and Canada. Ali Pureyan, manager of the Tehran bookbinding firm, Nemoneh, says business in Iran is "healthier than ever." "There is a lot of competition in the bookbinding field at home in Iran, but most firms are doing very well." And Alamdari, who has 30 years experience in the Iranian printing industry, initially with the Government then in the private sector, adds: "Lithography, printing and packaging - no-one does it better than Iran. And we are extremely competitive in our pricing."

A number of Iranian companies have also taken stands at the expo', organised by Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E), which is set to go annual due to intense industry demand. F&E international sales manager, Dominic McGill, says: "A clear trend at this year's PrinTech is the major influx of Iranian visitors. There is a definite surge in the printing industry in that country and we are determined to maintain our excellent service to Iran as we do for the rest of the region. "The support we are receiving from Iran and indeed the Middle East generally, is further evidence that this popular and important event simply had to go annual." keralamonitor.com