Bahrain is set to host the 12th Project Management Institute - Arabian Gulf Chapter (PMI-AGC) conference next month.

The event, under the patronage of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, will be held at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 27 to 29.

"There will also be an exhibition to accompany the conference, while pre- and post-conference tutorial sessions will be held on the sidelines," said PMI-AGC Bahrain vice-president Majeed Al Gassab.

"There has always been a demand for such an event and on previous occasions, it has attracted in excess of a thousand delegates," he said.

Al Gassab said the conference theme is 'Dawn of a new era - paradigm shift in project management'. "The theme was carefully crafted to emphasise the reality that we need to do things more innovatively, he said.

"This event serves as a forum for project management practitioners, engineers, planners, academicians and management to interact, share their experiences, improve their knowledge and showcase their projects and best practices."

He said the Gulf region is shaping a new era of global challenges. "The unparalleled level of growth in all industries in the region has brought about massive opportunities for our local countries and citizens which will provide significant local and global investments."

He said the region is becoming a pace setter for planning and execution of world class projects. "Our region is now leading others and forming new models in project planning and execution for others to follow. Our success depends on our professionalism and appropriate control."

He said the conference will feature more than 40 keynote, featured and technical speakers.

"The event is fully supported by the Works Ministry to enhance the knowledge and efficiency of project managers to meet the new challenges and achieve sustainable growth in our region," he said.

"Among them will be Works Minister Fahmi Al Jowder and PMI US chief executive and president Greg Balestro." -TradeArabia News Service