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The Northern Gulf's leading specialist business-to-business industrial event opens today at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, with the promise of three days of deal making, innovation and market leading products on show for trade visitors from around the region.
Gulf Industry Fair 2016 is held against a backdrop of falling oil prices, bringing into sharper focus the decision by GCC governments to accelerate their economic diversification programmes in recent years. The region is now in the midst of unprecedented investment in industrial projects and infrastructure.
New projects range from mega-scale strategic initiatives like King Abdullah Economic City on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast to economic clusters like Bahrain Industrial Wharf. Regardless of their scale or scope, these projects are stimulating the growth of thriving downstream ecosystems of supporting industries nationally and across the GCC.
Gulf Industry Fair 2016 provides a platform for companies to raise their profile in this region of huge potential, as they network with visitors from across the region who attend to understand the latest trends and innovations in the main industrial sectors of aluminium, industrial processes and manufacturing, metals, energy and environment, industrial facilities, ports and maritime, vocational training and safety.
As the Northern Gulf's undisputed trade and logistics hub - and a strategically-located manufacturing base for companies looking to access major regional markets like Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province - Bahrain has for the past nine years proven to be the ideal venue for Gulf Industry Fair attracting business owners and/or procurement professionals from the Kingdom and further afield.
This year visitors will enjoy a range of complimentary events, introduced by organisers Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE), as well as the familiar elements which will add to attractiveness of this the preferred industrial showcase for the Northern Gulf.
Among the new events, Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will host an Innovation in Industry Forum under the patronage of HE Zayed Alzayani featuring cases studies developing innovative products. The Itech for Industry Awards will take place to recognize the growing contribution of the ICT sector to industrial development.
The all inclusive approach to industrialization in the GCC by the Gulf Industry Fair will also see a dedicated careers day. The dedicated day on 11th February will see university students and graduates attend the Fair gain direct understanding of the careers possibility working in the industrial sector.
In addition both Alba and Bapco will deliver workshops on projects that they will be delivering . The workshops will give businesses the chance to understand the procurement requirements of Alba's Line 6 and Bapco's extensive energy projects in Bahrain.
Adding further value to the show, the organisers also plan to build on the overwhelming success of the Virtual Exhibition experience launched at Gulf Industry Fair 2015. Offering interviews and information about participating companies, the Virtual Exhibition - available at www.gulfindustryfair.com - provides exhibitor's with a further 6 month's marketing ,at no extra cost, to the global online business community after the three-day show .
As in previous years, Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will be supported by some of Bahrain's industrial icons. This includes Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the world's largest smelters and a major national economic contributor, whose role in creating a vibrant community of downstream aluminium industries - including the likes of fellow exhibitors Balexco, Midal Cables and Ameeri Industries - will again be highlighted at the show's 'Aluminium Village'.
National oil company Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), will, meanwhile, front the 'Energy and Environment segment of the show, where it will outline to visitors its current and future investment programmes.
Majaal, a developer and operator of industrial facilities primarily for small and medium enterprises (SME), will again be the principal strategic sponsor of the 'Logistics and Industrial Facilities' sector, where it will not only showcase the successes of its business model but also demonstrate Bahrain's credentials as an investment destination.
Other sector partners at the show include Ahmed Mansoor Al A'ali, who sponsor the 'Industrial Processes and Manufacturing' segment, and Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY), one of the Gulf's leading shipyards, as sponsor's of the 'Ports and Maritime' segment.
Jubran Abdulrahman, Managing Director of HCE, says Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will build on the legacy left by previous editions of the show.
"We are grateful for the unwavering support of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, in helping us establish Gulf Industry Fair as the 'go to' exhibition for companies operating in the Northern Gulf's expanding industrial markets.
"This year's show comes at a pivotal time for GCC economies, with low oil prices once again underlining the importance of industrial diversification. The Fair will therefore reflect the regional strategic importance of industry, catering to the precise and changing needs not only of the exhibitors themselves but also our visitors.
"We look forward to providing the ultimate networking, knowledge sharing and deal making platform for all companies involved in the industrial sectors."
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© Press Release 2016
