The Gulf Industry Fair 2014 that concluded yesterday will continue to generate leads for exhibitors by turning into a virtual exhibition on the Internet, said the event organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

The seventh edition of the three-day fair at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre attracted thousands of business visitors interacting with more than 120 exhibitors representing the aluminium, steel and alloys, industrial processes and manufacturing, energy and environmental protection, ports, logistics and free trade zones, training for industry, industrial safety and security and marine and deep sea services segments, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton said that HCE was always looking to add value to participants and boost the return on their investment.

"For the first time ever, we will create a virtual version of GIF 2014 and upload this on to the Internet," stated Middleton.

"Online exhibitions are not restricted by time. They are not forced to open and close and can be available 24 hours a day," he said.

The company has shot videos of every booth and exhibitor and their representatives have been interviewed. "We have our own trade and industry focused websites and there are websites of chambers of commerce, export councils etc where we would like the virtual exhibition to be hosted," noted Middleton.

"We are arranging to get that done," he added.

The virtual exhibition website will be active for the next 365 days and HCE will use social media and data mining. "The website is being designed in such a way that you will be able to visit it by zone, section, product and industry type," he said.

"The virtual exhibition will also have weblinks leading to the website of the participating companies," he explained.

According to him, the visitors will be able to view and download material from the online exhibition stands and request information.

HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman said going by initial reports the number of visitors to the fair this year had increased by more than six per cent over last year. "An event like this is specialised and we are not looking for thousands of people but for the right people wanting to do business," he remarked.

"The feedback from participants is very positive with most of them wanting to return next year. I have been told by the participants that in total many multimillion dollar deals have been signed or committed to," he added.

Abdulrahman said he was pleased to note that the event had proved to be the ultimate business enabler for the Northern Gulf's industrial sector yet again.

The fair's strategic sponsors included National Oil and Gas Authority in association with Bapco, Alba, one of the world's largest aluminium smelters, Asry, First Bahrain-Majaal Warehouse Company, Ahmed Mansoor Al Aali (AMA Group), British Offset Office, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Middle East Association, AHK (German Chambers Network), GAC and Machinery Trade International.-TradeArabia News Service