RathGibson International, a global specialist in exotic metal tubes and pipes, sees the Middle East region as one of its strong growth areas in the near future.

The company set up its regional headquarters in Bahrain four years ago and now sees this as its main overseas export operation outside the US.

Global sales and marketing vice-president Kirk Thorne who visited the Bahrain branch office yesterday said that while 30 per cent of its business was outside the US, some 25 per cent was now run from their Bahrain operation through distributors and channel partners. He said that since setting up the Bahrain operation their international business in the region has grown substantially year after year.

International business development director Alfredo D'Souza said that Bahrain was selected to commence their operations in the region because of its business-friendly atmosphere and proximity to most of the countries in the region to offer real-time solutions to valued customers.

The branch office covers business development for the company in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Europe.

'The Bahrain office has been responsible for securing prestigious projects for the company in oil and gas, power generation, geothermal, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

'We saw an upturn in business in the US in the first quarter of this year in our home market but that was the first growth for some time,' said Thorne.

'But we have seen sustainable growth across this region, the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Europe and in the current climate we see this area and China as major areas for growth.'

Thorne and D'Souza, along with RathGibson's country manager from India, Partha Krishnan, will be travelling to Abu Dhabi where RathGibson is taking part in Adipec 2010, the second biggest oil and gas show in the world.-TradeArabia News Service