Several deals together worth millions were signed on the second day of the Gulf Industry Fair (GIF 2012), as exhibitors launched new products and services during a busy day for the northern Gulf’s premier industrial trade show.

Exhibitor Ahmed Al Kuwaiti finalised a deal worth $2 million, and Bahrain’s Al Ghassan Trading notched up 15 deals, as Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) welcomed a new tenant.

Commenting on Ahmed Al Kuwaiti’s success, managing director Ahmed Ali Al Kuwaiti said the fair was ideal for the company to exhibit its expertise and the products of its principals and this edition had been “particularly fruitful”.

Al Ghassan Trading’s orders were for Pelican protective cases and advanced portable lighting systems to buyers in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, according to the company’s director Ghassan Almahmeed.

US-based Pelican Products is a global leader in design and manufacture of both high-performance case solutions and advanced portable lighting systems. 

“Their products are used in the most demanding sectors including firefighting, police, defence, aerospace, oil and gas, entertainment, industry and consumer.  Pelican products are built to last a lifetime,” he said.

Underling the significance of the show, Samel, a joint venture between Schmidt Heilbronn and Agility, a global specialist for bulk business, announced that it has selected Bahrain as a hub for its logistics operations in the Gulf region. 

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr Wolfgang Hoppmann, CEO of Samel, and Hassan Ali Al Majed, director general of the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) and BLZ, which is an exhibitors at the fair.

Samel and BLZ will work together to set up an efficient solution to store, handle and distribute different bulk materials like polyethylene, polypropylene, catalysts and additives for the chemical and petrochemical industry.

Midal Cables used its stand to host Paraguay’s Minister Industry and Commerce Francisco Rivas, Environment Minister Oscar Rivas, and Industry and Commerce Ministry advisor Fernando Massey.

Chairman Khalid Zayani commented: “The Aluminium Zone at GIF is a powerful representation of the downstream industry in Bahrain. Our group accounts for some 40 per cent of the metal sold in Bahrain by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba). The Paraguayan delegation was impressed at what they saw at GIF as a possible integrated aluminium industry to be developed in Paraguay with Midal Cables at the lead.”

Meanwhile, Alaa for Industry (AFI), a major Saudi industrial house, chose GIF 2012 to sign a distribution deal with France’s Leroy Somer, a specialist in alternators, electromechanical and electronic drive systems.

“AFI will sell Leroy Somer’s products in Bahrain as we think this is a good market,” said AFI’s area general manager for the western region Ziad Khader.

AFI’s turnover was over $300 million last year and the company, which had a good 2011 in Bahrain, expects 25 per cent more business in the kingdom this year.

“We plan to open another branch in Bahrain,” Khader said, adding that besides opening 15 smaller branches across the region, AFI was looking at Kazakhstan and Kurdistan in Iraq.

Also expanding its operations was Ebrahim K Kanoo, with plans to include ground support equipment for airports and seaports to its portfolio which comprises Toyota forklifts, reach trucks, towing tractors and conversion vehicles, according to manager Hisham Andraos.

Bahrain’s Ameeri Industries, the kingdom’s only factory producing Amgard streetlight poles and crash barriers said it had won a 1,500-pole order from Qatar.

Executive director Adel Ameeri also said the company has won a franchise to manufacture ABB switchgear in the kingdom under the brand Ametech.

Al Zayani Polymers of Bahrain, a manufacturer of polypropylene woven sacks, polyethylene greenhouse sheets and construction rolls, revealed it was planning to expand within nine months of its launch.

“We have a big market here even though 78 per cent of our products are exported to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq,” said assistant manager Shinemon Antony.

And Bahrain’s Mac Stores, the biggest wholesaler and retailer of automotive spare parts in the kingdom, plans to open a 1200-sq-m building materials showroom at Maameer, according to sales manager Tareq Kamal.

More than 100 exhibitors from 21 countries are taking part at GIF 2012, making it the biggest show to date.  Tomorrow (February 9) is the last day of the event which is being held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

The next Gulf Industry Fair will be held from January 15-17, 2013. “We are delighted that our exhibitors and visitors have enjoyed a successful event so far and look forward to welcoming them back to GIF 2013 which will be built, as usual, on strong representations in the dedicated Aluminium, Energy and Ports & Logistics zones,” said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE). - TradeArabia News Service