Visitor numbers to Gulf Industry Fair 2013 hit record levels on the first day with exhibitors describing the sixth edition of the event as the best yet, our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News reported.

The event, which closes today, was opened on January 15 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and is organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

"This year has been very good from day one," said Midal Cables area sales manager Anil Kumar.

"We have been coming here every year since the show started and we believe it is extremely important for large companies like ours to participate in this key event.”

"It gives us the opportunity to display our latest products and this year we are showing customers new technology products that have just hit the market.”

"This is the biggest Gulf Industry Fair to-date and that has been reflected in very strong visitor numbers," said International Technical Supplies and Services executive director Ali Al Najjar.

"There is more space this year and a more diversified range of businesses are taking part. We have met a lot of our clients and also made new contacts and we are looking forward to a very positive outcome.”

"It has been very professionally organised and well-publicised to attract the high quality of visitors the show is known for," he added.

This year's event has been a lot busier than last year, according to aluminium extrusion company Balexco.

"Last year was very good but this year it is even better, Balexco public relations officer Noora Nasser said."We were very busy on the first day and received a lot of interest from visitors, particularly from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.”

"It is an excellent opportunity to meet our customers and suppliers and talk to other businesses in the aluminium industry who are exhibiting here."

"The footfall on the first day was up by 15 per cent and we are expecting this to grow," said HCE managing director Jubran Abdul-rahman.

"The feedback we have had from exhibitors so far is extremely positive and Gulf Industry Fair is now clearly established as the key industrial exhibition in the Northern Gulf.”

"A number of businesses have already signed contracts during the event and we are aware of a number of other major contracts that are likely to be finalised in the next few weeks," he added. – TradeArabia News Service