A prestigious line-up of top-level government and business leaders will gather in Bahrain on January 12 to discuss the industrial sector's role in leading the world out of recession and boosting economic output in Gulf countries.
Bahrain's Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro will deliver the opening address at the Gulf Industry Forum on 'The Role of Government in Encouraging Industry'.
This will be followed by a keynote from Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa, chairman, General Organisation for Seaports (GOP), on 'The Benefits of Logistics Zones as Support for Industrial Development'.
Top Saudi entrepreneur Dr Solaiman A Al-Twaijri, managing director and CEO, Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company will then deliver a speech on 'The Future is Industry - an Entrepreneurs View', followed by Anwar Abdulrahman, chairman, Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej and Al Hilal Group, Bahrain.
Four plenary sessions will then follow, covering the topics of Energy & Power; Raw Materials and Commodities the Building Blocks of Industrial Growth; Financing Industrial Development and Manufacturing Businesses; and Market Innovation and New Products.
Bapco acting CEO Faisal Al Mahroos will deliver a keynote address on 'Bapco's Impact on Industrialisation in Bahrain', while Ameet Shah, co-chairman & director, Astonfield Management Inc, will present a talk entitled 'Alternative Energy Sources for Powering Industrial Development'.
The second plenary session will feature Alba chairman Mahmood Kooheji and Trimex Group CEO Madhu Konneru as keynote speakers.
The third plenary session, to be moderated by Gryphen Investment Bank chairman Nicholas Moy, will feature panelists Praveen Kadle, managing director, Tata Capital, who will speak about 'Corporate Financing Strategy - the Tata Model'; Saad Qahtani, CEO, Arbah Capital, who will speak about 'The Islamic Approach' to financing; and Maurizio Manzati, managing director, Emirates International Advisers.
Plenary session four, to be moderated by Tony Smith, director, British Offset Office, will feature addresses from Ashraf Yusuf Suliman, South African Ambassador to Kuwait, and former Iraqi minister of communications Jowan Fuad Masum, partner, Bayan Consultants in Iraq.