EDANA, the Brussels-based International Association Serving the Nonwovens and Related Industries, recently held its first-ever Middle East Nonwovens Symposium and Tabletop Exhibition in Dubai. The event was convened by Pierre Wiertz, general manager, EDANA, who said the organization did not have to ask why it would host such an event in the Middle East, but rather why had it not organized one sooner.

The 305 attendees came from 36 countries - 40 percent from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. According to EDANA, the symposium attracted a record number of participants for a first-time EDANA event. The symposium featured 13 speakers from regional and global companies who spoke about nonwovens growth markets. It is projected that the Middle East will become one of the world's fastest growth areas for nonwovens and related products.The sold-out tabletop exhibition featured products and services of 35 companies from Europe, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India and Pakistan. Encouraged by the symposium's success, EDANA has released plans for a second edition to be held sometime in 2009.

March/April 2007