Dubal Hosts 14th World Aluminium Conference

This year's Commodity Research Unit ('CRU') World Aluminium Conference- the 14th in the series - will be held in Dubai from 10 to 12 May, with Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal) as the event's co-host. Khalid Buhumaid, Vice President: Corporate Relations '&' International Affairs, Dubal; and official spokesperson of Dubal, says that CRU 2009 is particularly important as it is the first major industry forum following the start of the prevailing global economic recession. 'Widely acknowledged as 'the world's authoritative aluminium event for senior executives', the annual CRU World Aluminium Conferences attract senior executives from the aluminium industry across the world, explains Buhumaid. 'Accordingly, the delegates to CRU 2009 will include key d ecision-makers and influencers from the major global players, whose presence in the UAE for the event reflects the growing importance of the Middle East as an aluminium industry hub. As such the event also fulfils in part the directive of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise international awareness of the UAE and Dubai in an open and transparent way.' He adds that the Emirate's economy has been affected less by the global financial crisis than that in other parts of the world. 'This is due to the awareness and vision of the leaders of the UAE,' says Buhumaid. 'Indeed, the fact that Dubal is hosting CRU 2009 in Dubai is proof that the national economy remains strong.' Centred on a theme of future-proofing the global aluminium industry to ensure its future growth and sustainability, CRU 2009 includes pre-conference workshops covering lessons learnt from past downturns and strategies for the upturn from the current recession; and aluminium price management. The theme will be addressed by a line-up of acclaimed, international speakers covering a wide range of topics, including the global economic outlook for the aluminium industry; the outlook for supply, demand and the metals market; market opportunities; aluminium and sustainable development; and new frontiers for technical innovation. A small exhibition will accompany the conference. As co-host, Dubal's President '&' CEO Abdulla J M Kalban will deliver the welcome address at the start of CRU 2009. Dubal's Vice President: Marketing '&' Sales, Walid Al Attar, will present a keynote paper in the first session, entitled 'Gaining and sustaining markets for a gulf aluminium industry'; and General Manager: Special Projects, Malcolm McHale, will chair the same session. In addition, Dubal will host a tour of the company's Jebel Ali plant on Sunday 10 May and a gala dinner on Monday 11 May. CRU 2009 is the first of its kind to be hosted in Dubai. The event is held by rotation in a different country each year, and took place in Bahrain in 2007; and in China in 2008. 'We're confident that CRU 2009 will be as successful as its predecessors, if not more so,' says Buhumaid. 'Not only will topical, strategic industry issues be addressed, but also several key questions will hopefully be answered. These include forecasts regarding the anticipated bottoming out of the recession; the realistic growth volumes that can be expected in this year and next; and the timeline for global economies to return to pre-recession levels.' source：www.middleeastevents.com