It’s quite remarkable how suddenly a path can take an unexpected turn. Dubai, which never figured largely in my life, suddenly has acquired the interesting potential only a new home and accompanying l…
It’s quite remarkable how suddenly a path can take an unexpected turn. Dubai, which never figured largely in my life, suddenly has acquired the interesting potential only a new home and accompanying lifestyle could give it. However, given my immersion in the pulp and paper field for the last six years, some other interesting facts about this dynamic city have surfaced.
We did include, in last month’s industry news snippets, a little piece about Paper Arabia 2007, the first conference of its kind in Middle East. Organized by the Al Fajer Group, it was held September 1-3 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre; unfortunately, for me, this was just a few days before I arrived there for my first visit.
Although much has been written about the flourishing industry in such places as South America, China and Russia, few would have considered the United Arab Emirates as the centre of the industry within a world rarely pictured as lush.
And yet, the conference was conceived to highlight the growing importance of the paper and converting industry in the region. Commenting on the exhibition to the Financial Times, Col. Mohammad Mubarak Essa Al Abbar, group vice president of Al Fajer Group said, “The significance of the industry is evident from the success of this debut expo which attracted 120 exhibitors from across the world from 25 countries, reflecting the rising interest in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) as a cost-effective hub for the paper industry.”
In this way, the conference and exhibition served as a launching pad for new technologies targeted at the Middle East region and gave an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers in the paper industry to meet and do business with each other.
I am fortunately in the position to continue my relationship with the pulp and paper industry and Pulp & Paper Canada in particular, although at more of a distance than previously. Therefore, it looks as though next year, I will be the new ‘roving’ reporter, on site at the second Paper Arabia and will be able to gather information on how the industry is developing in that region and how it affects the industry back home.
It is my pleasure, at this time, to introduce our new editor-in-chief, Nan Ryder, to our readers. We have been working together now for several weeks and, as time passes and more is accomplished, I am impressed by the experience and knowledge that she possesses. I think that this will be a smooth transition for the magazine and, yes, a good change with a fresh outlook that will have a positive impact on the content and style of the magazine. There are still details to work out concerning the adjustment of responsibilities so that I can continue to contribute from my new remote location but we are both looking forward to bringing our readers the most up-to-date and relevant information about this industry which is so important to the economy of our country and, therefore, to all of us.
As an example of the range of information that PPC gathers for its readers, this issue contains pertinent information from Minas Basin in Nova Scotia concerning the challenge the mill faced, and overcame, concerning the recycling of old corrugated carton. At the other end of the country, we have a look at Chetwynd in British Columbia and the milestones of that particular mill. On a more international basis, information on environmental impact assessment has been gathered by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and we received permission to present it to our readers. A practical note is offered in the brownfield article as advice on exiting from surplus properties.
All in all, we hope that this will make for some good reading, as well as good information, carrying on a Pulp and Paper Canada tradition that stretches back well over a hundred years.
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