10/02/2016 08:21 AST
Leading industrial firms from across the globe are showcasing their products at this year’s Gulf Industry Fair (GIF), the specialist business-to-business industrial show in the Northern Gulf region, which opened at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday.
Organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), the three-day fair was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, in the presence of senior ministers, ambassadors, government officials and businessmen.
Following the inauguration, HRH the Premier toured the exhibition.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to HRH the Prime Minister for providing his endless support to Gulf Industry Fair and its aims,” HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman said.
Companies at the exhibition represented the key sectors of aluminium, energy and environment, industrial metals, industrial processes and manufacturing, ports and maritime, industrial facilities and logistics, training for industry and industrial safety and security sectors.
The fair will today host the Innovation for Industry Forum under the patronage of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Al Zayani.
“The Middle East is becoming increasingly reliant on its industrial base. The GCC’s leading industrial capitals remain positive for the year. GIF’s ninth edition is a positive insight into the innovative capacity of the Gulf’s industrial companies to compete at a global level,” added Mr Abdulrahman.
Exhibitors and visitors said they were looking forward to three days of deal-making, innovation and market-leading products on show from around the region.
As many as 80 exhibitors from across the region and representing products and services from 16 countries are in attendance at this year’s event.
They include industrial heavyweights such as Alba, Bapco, Asry and cable manufacturer Ducab from the UAE.
According to Mr Abdulrahman, what made this year’s edition of the event particularly significant was the fact that it was being held against a backdrop of continued low oil prices, bringing into focus the efforts by GCC states to diversify their economies away from dependence on oil.
The biennial iTECH for Industry Awards will also be presented today to innovative companies in recognition of the growing contribution of the ICT sector to industrial development.
The fair will also feature a dedicated careers day tomorrow, to help university students and graduates gain an understanding of careers in the industrial sector, said the event organiser.
In addition, both Alba and Bapco will conduct workshops on projects they are delivering.
The workshops will give businesses a chance to understand the procurement requirements of Alba’s Line 6 expansion and Bapco’s energy projects.
HCE also plans to build on the overwhelming success of the Virtual Exhibition launched at last year’s fair.
Offering interviews and information about participating companies, the Virtual Exhibition – available at www.gulfindustryfair.com – provides exhibitors with a further six months’ free marketing to the global online business community after the three-day show.
As in previous years, the fair is supported by some of Bahrain’s industrial heavyweights.
An aluminium giant and major national economic contributor, Alba’s role in creating a vibrant community of downstream industries – including the likes of fellow exhibitors Balexco, Midal Cables and Ameeri Industries – is again being highlighted at the show’s Aluminium Village.
Bapco is, meanwhile, fronting the energy and environment segment, where it is outlining current and future investment programmes, said the event organiser.
Majaal, a developer and operator of facilities for small and medium enterprises, is the principal strategic sponsor of the logistics a
Gulf Daily News
Please wait...
