More than 2,300 trade visitors attended the fifth Gulf Industry Fair 2012 which closed at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday (February 9).

The event has been hailed as a major success by exhibitors who are now looking forward to the next edition which will run from January 15 to 17 next year.

'Given the challenging times industry is facing, this has been an extremely solid turnout with participants announcing a lot of deals and signalling future business in the pipeline from contacts they have made over the past three days,' said organiser Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

'The exhibitors were extremely happy with the show and said they enjoyed a highly successful event,' he added.

'We had strong support for the energy, port and logistics and aluminium zones. Next year we will be adding an industrial tools and equipment and marine and subsea services zone,' he said.

'A lot of people have already expressed their desire to sign up for next year's event which should be an even stronger fair as the Gulf Industry Fair is now firmly established as the premier industry trade fair in the region,' he added.

Maxwell Oil and Gas Services were a first-time exhibitor, already looking forward to next year's event.

'This has been an absolutely superb event,' said project co-ordinator Joy Ticmon.

'It has been a really good opportunity for us to meet our clients and potential future partners in the electrical and mechanical field.

'We have met suppliers and clients and we have some strong leads, particularly from Saudi Arabia which we will be following up,' she added.

Chevron have been regular attender at the fair over the years and country manager Majeed Shafea said this year's edition had been one of the best.

'This is a very important event for us because industry is the mainstay of any economy in that it creates jobs and provides the country with a sustainable future and growth,' he said. 'This event attracts a lot of our customers and gives us an opportunity to show them where we are going.”

Hidd Power Company made its debut this year and was extremely impressed.

'We are not really here to find customers but to explain to people who we are and what we do,' said government and public relations manager Adel Shams.

'It is an opportunity to meet our suppliers but also to let people know more about our operations. Most people do not know that we produce around 70 per cent of Bahrain's water and 35pc of its electricity,' he added.

'It has been a good show and we have had some positive feedback and made good contact which we will follow up,' said Omega Paints executive Hamed Al Shawi.

AFI was on its third visit to the show and have already decided to return next year. 'This fair allows us to showcase the latest products that we are bringing to the market and provides a wide range of industrial sectors we need to talk to,' said marketing supervisor Matio Morales. – TradeArabia News Service