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SUITED and booted business moguls and visitors lined up at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sanabis for the networking and deal-breaking annual Gulf Industry Fair.
Held under the patronage of Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the eighth edition of the three-day exhibition attracted approximately 3,200 visitors and proved once again to be a hotbed for companies in the industrial sector to congregate.
The fair remains one of the largest annual business-to-business (B2B) shows in the northern Gulf. Organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), it attracted companies from around the world.
A variety of innovative products were showcased last week alongside solutions and services to expand commerce in zones such as environmental protection, industrial processes and manufacturing, industrial safety and security, alongside strong sectors including aluminium production and energy.
There were 62 exhibitors with 19 countries represented through their products and 59 companies – 95 per cent of the exhibitors – flying the flag for Bahrain alone.
To highlight its popularity, 35 companies returned from previous shows and 10 confirmed deals were reported, with Alwardi securing the largest contract for an unspecified sum with Apex Plastic Industries to transport material to neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Exhibition director Ahmed Suleiman said: “Most of the visitors come for several reasons. One is to meet with existing suppliers and clients and they are also looking for new business opportunities and products they can market. Another reason is to find new ideas for products and suppliers for their projects.”
The fair has acquired support from major players such as Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) in association with National Oil & Gas Authority, First Bahrain (Al Majaal) and the British Offset Office. This year, the fair also garnered support from sector supporters AMA (Industrial Processes and Manufacturing) and ASRY (Ports and Maritime).
There was an array of new features this year, including a virtual exhibition that offered information about participating companies, training and workshops and iTech for industry, which links IT companies to industrial companies.
For more details visit www.gulfindustryfair.com
