Two-day Gulf Iron and Steel Conference to begin at Expo Centre Sharjah on Jan 29

Organised by Steelworld, a leading trade magazine in the Asian Iron & Steel sector, the Conference will focus on a range of industry and region specific issues including opportunities and threats facing the industry, technology - enabler for cost competitiveness and growth, challenges ahead in steel Fabrication, prominent projects - problems and prospects, and steel trading - emerging markets and emerging applications.

Among the speakers at the event would be senior personnel from Arcelor-Mittal Steels, ETA - Steel Division, and Al Ghurair Group.

The Conference would also include presentations by Arab Iron & Steel Union, Gulf Organisation for Industrial Co-Operation, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, ABB, Elecon Engineering, Thermex, SMS Demag, Al Sohar Steels, ETA - Steel Division, Shadeed Iron & Steel Co., Emirates Iron & Steel Factory, Al Ittefaq Steels, Al Ghurair Group, Arcelor-Mittal steel, United Gulf Steel Mills, Conares, Attieh Steels, Zamil Steels, and Stemcor.

Among those who have registered for the Conference are top decision makers from the regional iron and steel sector including technology providers, equipment manufacturers, and raw material suppliers to the industry.

'Owing to the construction frenzy in the Middle East, there is an unprecedented demand for iron and steel products,' said Mr. D.A.Chandekar, Editor & CEO of Steelworld.

'Though this has led to a boom in the sector, it also means that the regional iron and steel sector needs to be fully geared up to meet with this rising demand. In other words, the industry needs to adopt the latest equipment and technologies that are in use in some of the most advanced iron and steel producing countries. The Gulf Iron and Steel Conference will provide an insight in to the equipment, technologies, and methods that are currently prevalent in the industry from a global perspective,' he added.

The Gulf Iron and Steel Conference will be held alongside the third edition of SteelFab at Expo Centre Sharjah, the Middle East's largest display of Steel, Fasteners, Accessories, Surface Preparation, Machinery and Tools, Welding and Cutting, Finishing and Testing equipment, and Coatings and Anti-Corrosion material.

The event will be held from January 29-31, 2007 and will feature over 280 brands and companies from 34 countries. Visitors to the Show will include fabrication yard managers, production managers, procurement managers, estimators, planning and design engineers as visitors from across the globe, especially the Middle East and North Africa region.

'It is for the first time in the region that a trade show for the steelworking industry is being held together with a focused conference on the iron and steel sector at one venue,' said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

'The hosting of the two events side by side means that the regional iron and steel industry's every requirement can be met from a single source. Any professional associated with the regional iron and steel industry simply can't afford to miss visiting them,' he added.