The PRIME Summit & Awards 2023, held at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai on November 21-22, proved to be a resounding success, attracting over 200 delegates from across the Middle East. The two-day conference featured a series of insightful sessions, keynotes, and success stories, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest trends and innovations in the packaging industry.
The event commenced with a keynote address by Avinash Ratta, CEO of Grainvelocity, focusing on ‘Shaping the Future of Modern Packaging in the Middle East-Gulf Region.’ Manisha Juneja, Research Lead – MEA, Toluna Corporate, followed with valuable insights on maximizing packaging impact through real-time data for effective design and consumer influence.
Attendees were treated to a showcase of packaging success stories shared by suppliers, manufacturers, and buyers who implemented successful innovations in packaging. Francois Martin, a senior industry consultant and sustainability strategist, discussed the evaluation of digital print and finishing for labels and packaging during the session on “Digital Ecosystem for Enhanced Colour Management.”
Day one’s post-noon session, chaired by Alexander van’t Riet, former CEO of Mai Dubai LLC, explored “Innovations in Advanced Packaging Automation.” Young entrepreneur Mohammed Jazib delivered a keynote on ‘Automation 4.0 in Packaging,’ followed by success stories from Al Thika Packaging and Comexi.
Partnered by Drupa, the Print & Packaging industry’s Olympic event, the summit included a sneak peek into the theme of DRUPA 2024, presented by Francois Martin.
Day two featured sessions on “Packaging Towards a Circular Economy,” with Priya Sarma, Chairperson of the Circular Packaging Association, delivering a keynote on circular packaging advancements. A panel discussion on “Closing the Loop for Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling in the UAE” provided insights into circular advancements, followed by success stories from industry leaders.
The conference concluded with a special fire-chat on “Empowering Women in Packaging: Closing the Gender Gap for Industry Growth and Innovation,” chaired by Sara Jackson.
The PRIME Awards gala dinner ceremony on the second day honored outstanding achievements in the packaging industry across 23 categories. The ceremony, attended by regional and international delegates, featured entertainment by MC Bassam and celebrated excellence in the field.
Organized by Packaging MEA magazine, the event was supported by platinum sponsors Bobst, Age Graphic Equipments, Uteco, Drupa, and gold sponsors iTM, Phoenix, Tetra Pak, Comexi, W&H, Garant, Reifenhauser, Komori, Anoop Plastics, Vinsak, X-Rite, with sustainability partners Hotpack and Agthia. Strategic partnership was provided by Drupa, and innovation partners included Al Bayader, Al Thika Packaging, Synaptik, Taghleef Industries, Recapp-Veolia.