Gulf Industry Fair (GIF), the Northern Gulf’s leading B2B event, set to be held over three days from February 4 in Bahrain, promises to live up to its reputation as a panoramic platform for products and technologies embracing manufacturing, metals, chemicals, energy and logistics as the region prepares to execute projects worth billions of dollars.
If the success of regional trade exhibitions is a barometer of economic health in the Northern Gulf, then GIF reflects an overwhelming confidence of companies operating in and serving the region’s industrial sector, organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) said.
Gulf Industry Fair (www.gulfindustryfair.com) has become a much-anticipated landmark in the Northern Gulf trade calendar and has gone from strength to strength since its 2006 inception.
In keeping with recent trends, the 2014 edition promises more participating companies – from large industrial organisations to an array of industrial services companies and product suppliers – to guarantee a showcase of the latest products and services either currently available or coming into the market.
Ambition and innovation will be key watchwords of the upcoming edition. Long-term confidence in the GCC’s industrial sectors is underpinned by the bold economic ambitions of regional governments, and the belief among local and international investors that such ambitions can deliver significant business opportunity going forward.
The Northern Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are in the midst of industrial investments worth billions of dollars which are transforming their economic bases.
At Gulf Industry Fair 2014 a series of sector-specific zones will, as in previous years, bring together large organisations, purchasers and suppliers in close proximity, creating a captive B2B networking environment in the main hall of the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC), where strong lead generation will be the minimum expectation.
The show will feature zones for Aluminium (supported by Alba, the short form of Aluminium Bahrain), Ports & Maritime (supported by Asry, the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard), Industrial Facilities (supported by First Bahrain-Majaal), Industrial Processes (supported by Bahrain’s Ahmed Mansour Al Ali) and Energy (supported by Bahrain Petroleum Company), said HCE in its statement.
Led by Alba, one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, and endorsed by the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC), the Aluminium Zone promises to reflect the sector’s positive global demand outlook, which continues to drive opportunity for downstream suppliers such as Bahraini companies ITSS, Garmco, Balexco, Midal Cables, Amiri Industries and Turk Mechanical, who will all demonstrate their capabilities at the show.
"GAC considers Gulf Industry Fair to be a key part of our ongoing strategy to highlight the GCC as an aluminium hub," remarked Mahmood Daylami, GAC’s secretary general.
"The GCC’s importance to the aluminium sector grows year on year with the expansion of smelters in the region and the resulting growth of the downstream products and services sector," he added.
Ali Najjar, ITSS executive director, said as Gulf economies further diversify away from oil and gas, the aluminium industry assumes ever
greater importance.
"For many years the Gulf had only two smelters, namely Aluminium Bahrain and Dubai Aluminium (Dubal). Today, there are six, with other aluminium-related projects on the horizon. These present tremendous opportunities," he pointed out.
Bahrain-based companies are certainly flexing their muscles on the international stage. Exhibitor Midal Cables, for example, is expected to start producing aluminium and alloy rods and conductors in Australia later this year in a joint venture partnership with Australia’s Power Grid Cables.
This will complement a 30,000 tonnes per year plant the company recently started in Turkey, producing overhead line transmission and distribution conductors. These projects are reinforcing the company’s position as a truly global corporation.
GIF’s other specialist zones are attracting similarly strong responses. The Energy Zone, which enjoys top-level support from Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority in association with the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), will mix local and regional players such as Hidd Power and Tebodin with global household names such
as Chevron.
HCE said interest in Gulf Industry Fair goes far beyond Bahrain, the GCC’s geographical heart and renowned exhibitions hub.
"Compared to this time last year, we have received an increase in the number of enquiries from Saudi Arabia and the UAE," said Jubran Abdulrahman, HCE’s managing director, highlighting the international flavour of the 2014 show.
"Already from Saudi Arabia we have confirmed participation from Ashcroft-Dresser, Belt Store, Pan Gulf, AFI (Alaa for Industries) and Khorshaim. Also enquiries have been received from Zamil Steel, Sabic and Al Rajhi Steel," stated Abdulrahman.
Jaap Vaandrager, the Netherlands’ honorary consul in Bahrain, has confirmed that a delegation of Dutch companies will make a welcome, and colourful, return in 2014.
"The Dutch pavilion proved to be a real success in 2013, with 16 companies from the Netherlands all reporting excellent results from their participation. The pavilion will return in 2014 as we continue to build on this winning formula," Vaandrager added.
Abdulrahman said a Presentation Zone – which debuted last year – will in 2014 feature a more targeted series of presentations from leading industrial companies about their services, products and procurement requirements.
It is all part of HCE’s strategy of listening to previous participants’ feedback, learning from experience, and delivering an even more compelling B2B show in 2014, he said.
"Resting on our laurels would not be in our DNA," remarked Abdulrahman. "Gulf Industry Fair may have an excellent reputation in the market as the ‘go-to’ showcase for industrial-related companies, but the onus on us is to innovate further, make sure the experience reflects latest trends and, above all, be a place where real business is done," he added.
In addition to the high-level zone sponsors, Gulf Industry Fair 2014 also enjoys support from the British Offset Office, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, The Middle East Association, AHK (German Chambers Network), GAC and Machinery
Trade International.
According to HCE, special discounted hotel packages are available for exhibitors and visitors, with details available on +97317299123.
