Gulf Construction Online - Industry fair draws 110 exhibitors

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GIF is only event of its kind for the Northern Gulf.

Industry fair draws 110 exhibitors

01 January 2012

PREPARATIONS for next month’s Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) in Bahrain are in full swing as more than 100 exhibitors look forward to participating in what could be another significant trade event.

The Northern Gulf’s most comprehensive, one-of-a-kind industrial exhibition, GIF 2012 is taking place at a time when the GCC is developing stronger ties with emerging markets as economies in the West remain sluggish. As many as 110 companies from 20 countries have already signed up to showcase their offerings with several more likely to come aboard, surpassing the 2011 figure of 107 exhibitors from 16 countries.

The region is flush with opportunities, which exhibitors will be hoping to capitalise on when they gather at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre for the fair which runs from February 7 to 9, 2012.

GIF has evolved over the years and has now become established as an unrivalled focal point for the companies and people who shape the region’s industrial landscape. GIF 2012 will seek to build upon the success of the 2011 show when approximately $30 million worth of business was conducted.

One of the world’s most comprehensive fairs, the event embraces sectors including aluminium, machine tools, industrial equipment, manufacturing, automation, steel, energy, logistics, ports and free trade zones and vocational training. World-scale manufacturers, local, regional and international enterprises, specialist equipment suppliers, distributors and agencies are expected to showcase their products and field enquiries.

“For this year’s show, we have built upon the successful aspects of the 2011 fair and this has resulted in HCE creating strong sector zones,” says Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of Bahrain-based Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), the organiser of the fair. “The zones represented will be Aluminium, Ports and Logistics and Energy.”

Alba, one of the world’s leading smelters, heads the Aluminium Zone, while GIF has also received endorsement from the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC).

“Gulf Industry Fair is considered by the GAC as part of its ongoing strategy to highlight the GCC as an aluminium hub. The Gulf’s importance in the aluminium sector is growing with the expansion of smelters in the region and the growing downstream sector built on this increased production,” says GAC secretary-general Mahmood Daylami.

Other specialist zones have attracted similar strong support.

The Energy Zone, headed by Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority, includes Hidd Power, Tabodin and Ahmed Al Kuwaiti. as well as global energy players such as Chevron and Skaugen Gulf.

And the Ports and Logistics Zone will be led by the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOSP) of Bahrain, followed by award-winning Bahrain Logistics Zone, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry) and Baytik Industrial Zone.

The GIF also enjoys the support of Tamkeen, a semi-autonomous yet independent authority entrusted with promoting entrepreneurship and jobs creation in Bahrain.

Under an agreement with HCE, Tamkeen is providing major financial assistance to Bahraini companies exhibiting in HCE’s three flagship trade fairs in 2012, which include GIF, gulfBID and GulfInteriors.

Tamkeen will subsidise 80 per cent of the total cost of Bahraini companies participating in these exhibitions up to a maximum of BD15,000 ($39,750) for small enterprises and BD20,000 ($53,000) for medium and large companies.