Bookings were being finalised for remaining slots at the Gulf Industry Fair (GIF 2008), the keenly awaited comprehensive industrial event as it drew closer towards opening day on January 15.

“We are all delighted with the level of support we have received from our sponsors and exhibitors. Our thanks to all who have helped us exceed our original expectations on the number of participants for the show,” said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director, Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions, which is organising the three-day show at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in close cooperation with Hannover Messe International, organiser of the world’s biggest industrial event, the Hannover Messe Fair.
“GIF 2008 promises to be a comprehensive presentation of exhibits which will be of interest to our professional trade visitors,” said Abdulrahman.
“The show will feature machinery and instrumentation designed to help and streamline manufacturing with principals coming from Germany, India, Taiwan the USA and France. Visitors will also be able to meet manufacturers of essential industrial products such as steel and aluminium. Other exhibits will include service industries to the region’s industrial sector such as free trade zone areas, ports and financial services in the form of equipment leasing facilitators as well as manufacturers and suppliers of essential infrastructural equipment such as power generators.”
Enthusiasm in the business community runs high as for the first time all the main sectors of industry are being represented under one roof, providing a rare opportunity to visitors to catch up on the latest technologies and network with suppliers for their product and service requirements.
Within GIF’s spectrum of sectors — Gulf Aluminium, Gulf Metal, Gulf Energy, Gulf Metrology, Gulf Logistics, Gulf Automation, Gulf Manufacturing and Industrial Areas and Free Zones — the show promises to be a fulfilling business experience to those interested in any of those fields.
 The importance with which the business community is regarding the event can be gauged from the group of high-profile organisations that have come forward as strategic partners, namely Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Zamil Industrial Investment Company (Zamil Industrial) and First Leasing Bank.
Among the latest to come aboard as exhibitors are the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain; British Offset Office, UK, Gulf Industrial Investment Co, Bahrain, and Aluminium Services, Bahrain.
The latest entrants also include M H Sherbiny for Commerce, Saudi Arabia; Business Communication, UAE; Lind High Therm,  Germany; Falcon Industries, Bahrain; Bahrain Workshop Co; WLL, Bahrain; Al Musairiey Metallic Industries, Saudi Arabia; Al Rama International, UAE, and SACMA - Macchine per Lamiere SPA,   Italy.
Earlier, the General Organisation of Seaports, Bahrain, and APM Terminals signed up as participants. The fair was bolstered by confirmations from DHL International, Aramex International, Pan Gulf, Arabian Chemical Co (Polystyrene) Ltd, Arabian Company for Steel Structures, Bhatia & Co and Midal Cables.
Also signing up were Arabian International Company, Rajhi Steel, SandMark Solutions of Hungary, Kuwait Finance House Industrial Oasis, the Expert Group, SAG Aluminium of Germany, Turk Heavy Transport, Wikus, Oilfield Technical Supplies Centre, International Techical Supplies and Services and Kirby Building Systems.
Among the first to confirm their participation as exhibitors were Alba, Azon of the UK, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, Aqaba Development Corporation of Jordan, Metals of Bahrain, Yateem Oxygen, Nimr Steel, Actis Furio of Italy, Al Suwaidi Equipment and Transport and Zayani Industrial Services.
Alruqee International of Saudi Arabia has come out in force with several companies it represents in the kingdom.
Gulf Industry Fair 2008 comes at a time when the Gulf is witnessing unprecedented investment and development in fields such as metals, utilities, hydrocarbons, petrochemicals and communications and information technology as well as in logistics, which supports the movement of goods.
Projects under implementation include aluminium ventures Emirates Aluminium, Qatalum and Sohar Aluminium, petrochemical ventures such as Sabic’s Yansab and Aramco’s Ras Tanura, utilities schemes including Marafiq in Saudi Arabia and gigantic logistics developments such as Dubai World Central incorporating an airport and Dubai Logistics City.