ABU DHABI, 26 Oct, 05 (WAM) - PennWell Corporation, BahrainExhibition and Convention Bureau (BECB) and the General Directorateof Civil Defence (GDCD), announce the launch of an exciting newfire event serving the Middle East.

The first 'Fire Department Instructors' Conference (FDIC) Bahrainis scheduled to be held between May 6 and 10, 2006. Some specialistsfrom the civil defence departments in the UAE will participatein the confernece to gain knowledge and experience in the field.

FDIC Bahrain is being organized under the patronage of Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Minister of the Interior.

The event enjoys high-level support both from within the governmentof the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as from the industrial sector.

The Ministry of the Interior and through this the General Directorateof Civil Defence under the leadership of General Abdul LatifAl Zayani has pledged its full support to the event. From industry,FDIC Bahrain also enjoys the full support of BAPCO, the BahrainPetroleum Company, and Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY)Bahrain. All three parties are offering full logistical supportas well as the use of their excellent training facilities toFDIC Bahrain.

FDIC Bahrain, based upon the proven success of PennWell's globalfire events, will be built upon three crucial elements. First,the Hands On Training (HOT) sessions, taking place on May 6-7,will give attendees live situational instruction. In carefullyselected locations throughout the city, fire fighters will learntechniques and practical theory from some of the most experiencedinternationally renowned trainers, who are being brought to theregion specifically for this event. Next, the exhibition, stagingon May 8-10, will be the platform for suppliers to showcase theirproducts and services to the fire market of the Middle East.

Amongst the confirmed exhibitors so far are: Akron Brass Company,BW Technologies, Paratech Inc, PBI Performance Products and ShaheenGroup. The third element will be the conference sessions, runningalongside the exhibition. These will give Fire Chiefs and SafetyManagers throughout the Middle East first hand advice on howto deal with the challenging scenarios they face. Each paperin the conference will concentrate on the command and controlof a specific major incident, and in all cases will be presentedby a speaker with direct operational experience of that particularincident.

FDIC Bahrain will draw together fire fighters from across theMiddle East with the express aim of providing them with crucialknowledge, experience and expertise as well as a unique networkingopportunity. The main aims of this great profession are the savingof lives and the safe and effective control of the most dangeroussituations. The techniques, equipment and direct operationalexperience on show at FDIC Bahrain will assist greatly in therealisation of these aims.

The training programme will be developed under the able leadershipof former United Nations Fire Chief Robert Triozzi, leader ofthe Rome based Fire Rescue Development Program, a UN recognisedNone Governmental Organisation (NGO). Chief Triozzi, a 30-yearfire service veteran, has worked with fire-fighters in 38 countrieson 5 continents and has the distinction of reorganizing, trainingand guiding fire services in developing and war torn countries,including Bosnia, Angola, Kosovo and Iraq.

Co- Leader is John O'Connell, Lead Instructor at the FDIC eventsin the USA as well as a fireman of 26 years experience with theFire Department of New York (FDNY) one of the world's busiestfire departments. Until his recent retirement, John was the mostexperienced elite 'Rescue' fireman in the city, serving withRescue 3. Both John and Chief Triozzi will be working closelywith experienced partners from within Bahrain and globally.

At the inaugural committee meeting, Glenn Ensor, Director ofEvents PennWell Global Fire Group, commented: 'This extensionof PennWell's hugely successful fire franchise is an excitingmove. This event will bring together the best instructors andinnovation leaders that the global fire industry has to offer.

The live Hands-On-Training sessions are so powerful and so dramatic,they will result in the very best training for the region's firefighters. PennWell Corporation is deeply committed to developinglearning and training for fire fighters around the world andwe are delighted with the enthusiasm that this launch has alreadygenerated.' Regarding Bahrain's position as the location for this internationalevent, Ensor added: 'Bahrain is a logical choice of locationfor FDIC. The comprehensive nature of this type of event requiresthe full support of the host city and its fire and safety services.

From the very beginning, the Kingdom's representatives have recognisedthe benefits, which FDIC Bahrain will bring to the fire and safetyservices of the Middle- East. Consequently, all the support wecould wish for has been offered and we deeply appreciate theforesight and generosity we have encountered here. Add in theenthusiastic response the concept has received from industryand the right ingredients for success are already in place. Easeof travel to Bahrain, its popularity as a place of business inthe Middle East and its proximity to the vast Saudi Arabian marketonly serve to underline the case for staging the event here.'