The last edition of APLF Leather & Materials +, held for the first time outside Hong Kong borders, closed its door last April, 1.
As the travel restrictions related to the pandemic are still stringent in Asia, the organizers chose to ‘migrate’ west, precisely to the Dubai World Trade Center, to welcome once again the operators of the leather sector and finally hold the first in-person event after three long years.
The location of Dubai –an internationally important commercial hub and location of the World Expo 2020 –between Europe and Asia also makes it an ideal spot to meet, also boasting excellent international flight connections to and from Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia and direct flights from the US and South America.
The decision to move the event to this location, taken last October by the Informa Markets team after a careful evaluation, has actually proved successful, recording excellent numbers both in terms of exhibitors and visitors, whose composition was different from the one who used to attend the Hong Kong halls: China and the Far East countries were lacking, while attendees from Central Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh registered very good figures.
The event was a real catalyst for machinery manufacturers, especially Italians, who boast excellent commercial relations with Dubai and neighboring countries and who therefore found here fertile ground to consolidate their business.
The concomitance with Fashion Access – dedicated to the finished product – has strengthened and consolidated the entire event, bringing customers and suppliers of different fields under one roof: an unmissable chance in a location that may be chose again in the coming years. But that’s just a rumor.
Representatives of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency, Informa Markets and Assomac at the inauguration of the Italian Pavilion at APLF Dubai
Spotted at the fair!