01 February 2009

Significant deals were struck by companies participating in the recently-concluded Gulf Industry Fair, bucking the global financial downturn.

The three-day comprehensive fair, organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions, part of Al Hilal Group, was opened by Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre on January 13.
At the fair, Slovakia’s Biospol Group announced a $90-million deal in Bahrain. The project includes upgrading a 25-year-old water treatment plant, building a desalination plant, a waste treatment plant and a bio-fertiliser plant, said Kristian Kratochvil, general director of Bioenergetická spolo nos, an engineering company providing leading-edge products to generate cost-effective and environment-friendly solutions to various types of environment and water treatment problems.
Pan Gulf Welding Solutions’ (PGWS) pavilion was amongst the busiest. Part of Saudi Arabia’s Pan Gulf Holding Company, PGWS secured orders worth more than €1.5 million ($1.9 million).
Elteco, a first-time exhibitor from Slovakia, was said to be on the verge of signing deals for the sale of two twin-seater airplanes to clients in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The company also received “good inquiries” for its $1.33-million cogeneration unit, and, encouraged by this, is planning to set up an office in Bahrain, he said, adding that the cogeneration unit can generate up to 2.5 MW electricity. Germany’s Arteko, which specialises in all sectors of waste management, recycling and sewage water treatment, won deals worth $80,000, selling three bailers — one to a client in Saudi Arabia and two to clients in Bahrain.
Saudi-based Alruqee Group, the largest exhibitor at the expo and Saudi agent for a number of machine tools and engineering companies, scored several deals including one worth $134,000 for the sale of a Messer CNC plasma cutting machine to a buyer in Jubail. The group also sold 10 magnetic drilling machines worth $21,341 to Yanbu-based Olay Descon.
First-time exhibitor Rental Solutions and Services (RSS) from Dubai won three orders for power generators from Saudi Arabia. Another first-time exhibitor from the US, Heritage Key, was confident of luring local buyers to the US property market.
Many other companies reported that they were pursuing deals arising from contacts made at the fair and were confident some would materialise in the course of time.
Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa said exhibitions such as Gulf Industry Fair would serve as a confidence booster to the economy at a time when crisis-mongering was running rife. As many as 125 exhibitors took part in the fair, more than 100 who showed up for the first show in 2008. A majority of the exhibitors at the 2009 Gulf Industry Fair have pledged to return for next year’s show to be held from January 12 to 14.

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