Top Aluminium expo opens in Dubai
Dubai, April 23, 2013
More than 160 exhibitors from 25 countries are taking part in Aluminium Middle East 2013, a leading exhibition for aluminium products, technologies and investments in the Middle East, which opened in Dubai today (April 23).
Saeed Mohammed Ahmad Al Tayer, the CEO and managing director of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and vice chairman of Dubal, inaugurated the the three day event being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), said the organiser Reed Exhibitions.
The 2013 edition underlines the Mena region’s rapidly growing role in the global aluminium industry, highlighting investment plans in new smelters and expansion of existing capacities by the regional market players from the GCC countries.
With the strong expansion drive in the region, the GCC is expected to account for 13 per cent of the world’s total aluminium production by the end of 2013. Moreover, GCC countries are expected to collectively boost aluminium production capacity by up to 40 per cent to reach 5 million metric tons by 2014, from around 3.7 million tons in 2012.
A major highlight this year is the new B2B Business Matching Program that will make it easier for exhibitors to forge connections through an extensive database of business contacts and companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC, North Africa, Levant, Turkey, India, South Africa, Asia and Australia.
The new Business Matching Program, which has already identified over 200 serious buyers seeking perfect matches for their sourcing requirements, is in line with the goal of Aluminium Middle East 2013 to ultimately increase the region’s global market share and help boost the GCC’s aluminium exports to exceed 80 per cent of the current total production.
Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, the president and CEO of Emal said, “While the industrial flagship expands into one of the largest single-site aluminium smelters, it continues to set the benchmark for the global aluminium industry, reinforcing the region’s position as a major hub for aluminium production in the world."
"Emal is proud to be the diamond sponsors of Aluminium Middle East for the third successive year. This is truly a demonstration of its commitment to our industry and to the region. We look forward to participating in the event along with our peers from the aluminium industry," he stated.
Mohammed Bader-Eddin, the show director of Aluminium Middle East 2013, said: "This edition of Aluminium Middle East has been highly anticipated, especially since the GCC region’s aluminium sector has come under the global spotlight given its growing international stature."
"GCC countries are currently striving to consolidate their position in the region and the world by focusing on boosting their annual production and adding new capacity, while also adopting the latest technologies and the highest standards in sustainability and environmental conservation," noted Bader-Eddin.
Aluminium ME 2013, he stated, will serve as an excellent platform for key regional and international industry players to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in the sector.
"Moreover, the Business Matching segment of the event will facilitate participating companies to explore and build long term business relationships with the right partners," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
