A first for Morocco: a new coatings event for North Africa attracted visitors from around the...

Congress proved to be a success with a well attended show and conference. It was a focused event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Casablanca, Morocco with some 33 stands and a busy two-day coatings conference. For some locals it provided a first view of a coatings show.

The event took place on 14-15 September 2004 and attracted 301 attendees from 18 different countries, including Morocco, France, Spain, Germany and Algeria. Of the visitors, 46 were conference delegates.

The exhibition provided an opportunity for suppliers of raw materials and products used in the manufacture of paints and adhesives to meet prospective contacts in a new and exciting market.

Ideas presented

Some 11 papers were presented over the two days of the conference from Egbert Brinkman from Akzo Nobel on 'Smart' theology resins to Christian Ludwig of Atlas who spoke of laboratory simulations to test coatings for weathering. There was even a speaker from China--Laurence Wang from Sichuan Luman Titanium Industry.

Keith Middleton from Eastman spoke of the growth in water based coatings for the increasingly important architectural market.

Comments on the show were mixed but most exhibitors and visitors were looking forward to the next one.

Alain Stevaert, sales manager, Elcometer reported 30 contacts made on the first day and 20 contacts made on the second day. 'We had visitors from Algeria and Tunisia. The pre-publicity worked as people were coming with the letter of invitation in their hands. We will definitely be in Tunisia next year and we would like to be in Morocco again in 2006.'

Nigel Rose, managing director, Sheen Instruments, said: 'It has been a very interesting exhibition and conference with a number of possibilities for the future. We will be looking at the Tunisian exhibition next year and we are likely to do something in Morocco in 2006. I expect that Morocco with have developed even further by then. If it follows on from the successful Vietnamese forum this will become a regular focal point for coatings meetings in Morocco:

Samira Chofqi, commercial manager from Quimigranel Maroc said that both afternoons had been very busy and that the company, co-exhibiting with Eastman Chemicals, had made lots of contacts. 'There are lots of exhibitions in Morocco but up to now nothing for the coatings industry. We welcome a coatings event in Morocco,' she said.