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Bahrain's Prime Minister HRH Prince
Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
at the 2013 edition of GIF

Record line-up seen for Gulf Industry Fair

Manama, December 10, 2013

Demand for space at the upcoming Gulf Industry Fair 2014 from local, regional and international exhibitors will match or even exceed last year’s 3,200 sq m, said Bahrain-based organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

As the countdown nears for the 2014 edition of the Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) in Bahrain, the organisers are confident that the GCC’s premier annual B2B exhibition will match the success of the 2013 show.

In addition, major sponsors have once again thrown their weight behind the fair, traditionally held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, which will be held from February 4 to 6 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC).

These include Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry), Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga), the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Majaal Warehouse Company and Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali.

Bahrain’s Labour Fund Tamkeen is also playing a key role at the fair by supporting local companies through its Tarweej scheme to showcase their industrial products and services. Under the scheme, Tamkeen is providing up to 80 per cent of the participating costs to eligible Bahraini companies showcasing their products and services at GIF and other local and regional exhibitions.

“Now in its seventh edition, GIF has firmly established itself as the premier event of its kind in the Gulf,” said HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

The GCC states, including the Northern Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are spending billions of dollars in a bid to diversify their economies, said Abdulrahman, adding that events such as GIF have “an important part to play in promoting the industrial diversification of the region by providing a B2B marketplace for companies who are part of this industrialisation”.

The 2014 edition, promises more participating companies – from large industrial enterprises to an array of industrial services companies and product suppliers – to guarantee that the latest products and services in the market are on display.

“In 2013, the Dutch Pavilion achieved business success for many of its participating companies,” said Abdulrahman, adding that their renewed participation along with other international companies will “add to the global flavour of the fair”.

A series of sector-specific zones will, as in previous years, bring together large organisations, purchasers and suppliers in close proximity, creating a captive B2B networking environment in the main hall of the BIECC. This will be supplemented with the inclusion of an interactive presentation zone for updates on procurement and technology requirements of leading companies and investors in the region.

The show will feature zones for Aluminium (supported by Alba), Ports and Maritime (supported by Asry), Industrial Facilities (supported by First Bahrain-Majaal), Industrial Processes (supported by Bahrain’s Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali) and Energy (supported by Noga and Bapco).

The Aluminium Zone promises to reflect that sector’s positive global demand outlook, which continues to drive opportunity for downstream suppliers which include Bahraini companies such as ITSS, Garmco, Balexco, Midal Cables, Ameeri Industries and Turk Mechanical, who will all demonstrate their capabilities at the show.

Other specialist zones are attracting similarly strong responses with the Energy Zone mixing local and regional players such as Hidd Power and Tebodin.

In addition to the zone sponsors, the 2014 show also enjoys support from British Offset, The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Middle East Association, AHK (German Network Chambers), the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC) and Machinery Trade International.

The 2013 edition attracted 110 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors. Hopes are high that the 2014 show will comfortably eclipse this as the Northern Gulf’s industrial sector continues its relentless drive ahead. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | Gulf Industry Fair | Hilal Exhibitions |

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