IFP (International Fairs and Promotions) hosted a reception on Tuesday at Hilton Beirut – Downtown, to launch the first edition of 4P East Med; the International Exhibition for Packaging, Processing, Printing, and Paper, held under the patronage of the President of the Council of Ministers, His Excellency Mr. Saad Hariri, from 15 to 18 October 2019, at the Seaside Arena.
The reception was held in the presence of Mr. Dany Gedeon; General Director of the Ministry of Industry, representing H.E. Mr. Wael Abou Faour, Dr. Fady Gemayel; President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and the Arab Federation for Paper, Packaging, and Printing Industries, Dr. Mona Wahba; Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mrs. Francesca Zadro; Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency, Mr. Abdullah Al Mamun; First Secretary at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Pedro Enrique de Curtis Martínez; Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Venezuela, Mr. Mohammad El Yaman; CEO of El Yaman Group, and Mr. Albert Aoun; Chairman of IFP Group, in addition to businessmen and media representatives.
The ceremony commenced with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a word by Mr. Albert Aoun thanking everyone who contributed to the exhibition. Aoun stressed the role of industry and businessmen in Lebanon for growth and development.
“The exhibition’s first edition features more than 100 Lebanese and international exhibitors from 9 countries; including 3 national pavilions for Egypt, China, and Bangladesh, that will present the latest technologies and innovations in packaging, printing, processing, and paper. This exhibition provides a platform for exchanging expertise and exploring the needs of the Eastern Mediterranean markets and consumers,” he said.
Aoun added that 4P East Med will host a specialized conference under the auspices of the Minister of Industry, H.E. Mr. Wael Abou Faour with the participation of industry specialists, in hopes that the event receives positive feedback. He also invited all specialists involved in local and international industries to register their visit for free on www.4peastmed.com.
In his speech, Mr. Mohammad El Yaman praised the strong will of Lebanese industrialists and businessmen to face challenges, especially with the continuation of exporting their products despite mounting difficulties. He highlighted the importance of this exhibition to encourage the Lebanese industry and benefit from the Lebanese expertise in integrating technology with modern industry. El Yaman also noted that the exhibition will witness the launch of an advanced platform that incorporates artificial intelligence in paper and printing.
On her part, Dr. Mona Wahba thanked IFP for its pioneering role in the exhibitions industry which has become a strategic platform to bring together businessmen and exchange experiences. She also pointed out the complementary relations that Lebanon and Egypt enjoy.
Wahba noted that the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry stressed the importance of his country’s participation in this exhibition, indicating Egypt’s support and keenness for cooperation with Lebanon within various sectors including industry and innovation. Wahba also praised the role of IFP in the Egyptian market which serves both countries.
Dr. Fady Gemayel also delivered a speech in which he said that the paper industry is regaining its importance in Lebanon and the world for packaging and product promotion. He saluted Lebanese industrialists, describing them as heroes for their ability to persevere and innovate in spite of difficulties, pointing out the presence of Lebanese goods in various countries.
On his part, Mr. Dany Gedeon delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister of Industry in which he thanked the organizer’s efforts and stressed that the ministry is putting all its capabilities at the disposal of industrialists.
“We congratulate you on this success even before the exhibition commences since organizing such an event in these circumstances is a success on its own. Packaging and processing rely on three pillars that we must focus on from now on, and those are recycling, art, and innovation. It is no longer sufficient to say: ‘Made in Lebanon’, we must say ‘Innovated in Lebanon.’ The world is headed towards innovation and competition with a strong focus on technology to reduce energy and raw material waste as well as pollution,” he said.
ifp info
10/10/2019
