Preparations are underway to hold the Northern Gulf’s top business to business (B2B) event, Gulf Industry Fair (GIF 2012), from February 14 to 16 in Bahrain.
Prominent companies active in key industrial sectors are expected to participate at the event. The fair takes place as the Northern Gulf goes through a multi-billion-dollar spending spree to spruce up infrastructure and boost industrial and economic development.
In Saudi Arabia alone, nearly $90 billion will reportedly be spent in the next decade on adding new power supply networks, while $30bn will be spent on new water projects up to 2016.
Expectations are that the 2012 edition will have greater representation.
Comprehensive range
GIF 2012, which will be held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, will cover a comprehensive range of sectors including aluminium, machine tools, industrial equipment, manufacturing, automation, steel, energy, logistics, ports and free trade zones and vocational training. World-scale manufacturers, local, regional and international enterprises, specialist equipment suppliers, distributors and agencies are expected to showcase their products and field enquiries.
Known for its high calibre of visitors, the 2012 exhibition promises to attract senior decision makers, procurement personnel and product specifiers from the buoyant Northern Gulf region, making it the ultimate B2B networking experience.
The fair is the region’s major networking event for goods and services.
Outstanding growth prospects
'The overall economic vision for many countries is based on wealth driving demand for services,' HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman said. 'It is clear wealth creation will come from industry, so we anticipate the industrial manufacturing and services sector to see outstanding growth opportunities over the next few years.
'This positive vision of the future for Bahrain and the GCC forms the basis of HCE’s vision for Gulf Industry Fair.'
GIF 2012 will seek to build upon the success of the 2011 show, when 107 exhibitors from 16 countries conducted approximately $30 million-worth of business.
'The initial response from regional and international companies has been positive and we are confident that GIF 2012 will be bigger and better than GIF 2011,' HCE conference director Ahmed Suleiman said.
To date, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce, British Expertise, a trade organisation which promotes British companies overseas, the German Arab Chamber and Machinery Trade International have confirmed their support for GIF 2012.
