Mitsubishi together with Proteck MEA Seven Oaks International - the company's press sales distributor for the United Arab Emirates, recently joined forces to promote the full line of Mitsubishi sheet-fed offset presses at the Middle East's premier printing and publishing exhibition known throughout the region as "Gulf Print." Although this year's event marked its seventh edition, it was the first Gulf Print that Mitsubishi has joined.

The four-day annual event took place at the Dubai Airport Expo and reached a very successful conclusion on 14 December. Organized by Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E) headquartered in London and supported by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and International Media Production Zone, the show attracted a record-breaking international crowd of nearly 7,000 visitors from more than 70 countries. Exhibitor participation also set new records with over 150 companies from nearly 30 countries on hand for the event.

With more than 1000 registered printers and licensed publishers in the UAE, the local Chamber of Commerce & Industry has designated the growing printing market as one of the countries' top ten industries. From an international perspective, Dubai is regarded as the region's commercial hub for numerous industries, including printing and publishing, due in large part to its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe.

According to Senior Director Bala of Proteck's headquarters in India, "Gulf Print 2005 provided an outstanding venue for gaining a better insight into the Middle East printing market. There was significant interest in the press offerings from Mitsubishi, particularly in the company's large format presses, and we have a number of promising leads."

This keen interest in the Mitsubishi sheet-fed press lineup was well-proven by the large number of visitors to the 100m2 Mitsubishi/Proteck MEA Seven Oaks stand over the course of the exhibition as well as by the large three-press order recently received by Proteck MEA Seven Oaks International from Al-Ghurair Printing & Publishing House (AGPPH) of the UAE. The presses ordered by AGPPH - one of the largest printing organizations in the Middle East, include one DIAMOND 3000TP Tandem Perfector, one DIAMOND 3000R Convertible Perfector,and one DIAMOND 3000LS. Delivery of the three presses is slated to begin in March 2006.
(For additional information on this order, please see "Mitsubishi News" No. 1088 on the company headquarters website at www.mhi.co.jp)

The next Gulf Print exhibition will take place again in Dubai from 10 to 13 December 2006.