Industrial heavyweights from the region lead a strong field of more than 60 exhibitors who will showcase their products and services at the Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) 2015, which opens today (Feb 3) at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) in Bahrain.

This year’s edition of the Northern Gulf’s leading business-to-business industrial show has added new features while attracting exhibitors from as many as 19 countries across the world.

Held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, the event promises three days of deal-making, innovation and market-leading products on show for trade visitors from around the region.

This year’s edition is being held against a backdrop of falling oil prices, bringing into sharper focus the efforts of GCC states to accelerate their economic diversification initiatives.

The fair provides a platform for companies to raise their profile in this region of huge potential, as they network with visitors from across the Middle East, eager to see the latest trends and innovations in the sectors of aluminium, industrial processes and manufacturing, metals, energy and environmental protection, ports and maritime, training and safety.

As the Northern Gulf’s trade and logistics hub, Bahrain has for the last eight years proven to be the ideal venue for the fair attracting visitors, predominantly business owners and/or procurement professionals from the kingdom and further afield, said Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE), the organiser of the show.

NEW FEATURES

This year, visitors will enjoy a range of new features. These include vocational workshops tailored to individuals working in the kingdom’s industrial sectors. Organised by Medpoint Design and Events Management in association with Lead Academy, the Training4Life workshops will offer expert insight and live practical experience in disciplines such as behavioural safety while exploring ways to enhance productivity and innovation for profitability.

Meanwhile, Ducab, one of the Middle East’s leading manufacturers of high quality electrical cable wires and copper products, will hold a seminar entitled: ‘Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications’.

Gulf Industry Fair 2015 will also, for the first time, host ITECH Industry 2015, an event where IT companies will showcase their capabilities and generate direct leads.

The organiser also plans to build on the overwhelming success of the Virtual Exhibition experience launched at the 2014 show. Offering interviews and information about participating companies, the Virtual Exhibition – available at www.gulfindustryfair.com or www.gulfindustryonline.com – prolongs exhibitor exposure in the online community long after the three-day show has concluded.

As in previous years, the show will be supported by some of Bahrain’s industrial icons. This includes Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the world’s largest smelters, whose role in creating a vibrant community of downstream aluminium industries – including the likes of fellow exhibitors Garmco (Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company), Balexco (Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company), Midal Cables, Ameeri Industries, and Turk Mechanical Industries – will again be highlighted at the ‘Aluminium Village’.

National oil company Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) will, meanwhile, front the ‘Energy and Environmental Protection’ segment of the show, where it will outline its investment programmes.

Majaal, a developer and operator of industrial facilities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), will again be the principal strategic sponsor of the ‘Logistics and Industrial Facilities’ segment, where it will also demonstrate Bahrain’s strong credentials as an investment destination.

Other partners include Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali, who will sponsor the show’s ‘Industrial Processes and Manufacturing’ segment, and Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry), one of the Gulf’s leading shipyards, as sponsor of the ‘Ports and Maritime’ segment.

Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of HCE, said the 2015 edition will build on the legacy left by previous editions. “We are grateful for the unwavering support of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, in helping us establish the Gulf Industry Fair as the ‘must-attend’ exhibition for companies operating in the Northern Gulf’s expanding industrial markets." - TradeArabia News Service