Alba strategic partner for Gulf Industry Fair

MANAMA: Alba has agreed to be the strategic Aluminium Partner for the third Gulf Industry Fair (GIF). The sponsorship agreement with event organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), a subsidiary of Bahrain-based Al Hilal Group, is the first time that Alba will support the aluminium segment of the show as a strategic partner. Alba is consistently ranked as one of the world's largest aluminium smelters and a key industrial driver in Bahrain, supporting a range of downstream industries and making a major contribution to the national economy. It is also one of the founders of the Gulf Aluminium Council, which represents, promotes and protects the interests of the aluminium industry within the Gulf region. The aluminium industry is an increasingly vital force in the region and is expected to meet around 25 per cent of international market requirements by 2015. This is being made possible with the increasing number of regional aluminium smelters and downstream industries. "The agreement is a clear acknowledgement from Alba of the growing importance of the Gulf Industry Fair to the kingdom's development," said Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton. "Having a company of Alba's global stature adds enormous prestige to the event. "This year, the event will be enhanced by the Gulf Industry Forum, the theme of which is 'The Future is Industry', at which a number of regional and international business leaders will present a series of industry-related papers." "GIF will showcase a dynamic and exciting mix of international, regional and local industries," added HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman. "Alba's strategic Aluminium Partner status reflects its continued support for the downstream aluminium industry." GIF, to be held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre from January 12 to 14, has quickly established itself as the most important and comprehensive industry-related exhibition in the Northern Gulf. In addition to aluminium, GIF covers the key industrial segments of machine tools, industrial equipment and manufacturing, automation, metal, energy, logistics and metrology. The event also provides a unique opportunity for the operators of industrial areas and free zones to meet an interested market of decision makers in the manufacturing and distribution sectors.