Gulf Extrusions strengthens presence in African markets with launching of new sales office in Addis Ababa

The move has been part of Gulf Extrusions' aggressive expansion strategy across high-growth global markets, setting up new distribution channels and production plants to cater to a growing global demand for extruded aluminium.

The new sales office in the Ethiopian capital started operations in July 2008 and will usher in the opening of several other strategic distribution channels in Djibouti (Ethiopia), Sudan and Tanzania.

Gulf Extrusions also seeks to consolidate its presence in the African market by offering a wide range of value-added services and complementary projects, including a comprehensive training program to educate fabricators on how to produce the most efficient aluminium.

"Gulf Extrusions' global expansion initiatives for the year 2008 are making excellent progress as we are on track to fulfil our strategic goals and objectives. The new sales office in Addis Ababa is just one of several steps aimed at reinforcing Gulf Extrusions' commanding presence in Africa, which we consider a primary growth market. As part of our expansion program, we will also increase our warehouses and establish new distribution channels throughout strategic points to accommodate the global increase in demand for aluminium,"

said Modar Al Mekdad, General Manager, Gulf Extrusions.

Gulf Extrusions' intensified activities this year in Africa follows a highly successful expansion program in Europe last year wherein a new chain of quality control and warehousing facilities were set up in Europe.

A warehousing facility was initially put up in Belgium and later in the UK.

By establishing a robust global network, Gulf Extrusions has positioned itself to take advantage of the expected quantum leap in the aluminium industry in the succeeding decade, which is predicted to raise the GCC's overall share of the global aluminium market to around 10 per cent by 2010.

Currently, several existing smelters in the region are being upgraded and expanded, while several more new smelters are being commissioned, making the GCC a major player in global aluminium industry.

In addition, Gulf Extrusions has reinforced its domestic operations in the UAE, which has one of the largest concentrations of aluminium operators in the Eastern world.

Nearly 70% of Gulf Extrusions' production is supplied to the domestic market to support the enormous construction projects in the UAE.

The rest of Gulf Extrusions' products are exported to South East Asia, other GCC countries, Europe and Canada.

Gulf Extrusions, which is part of the Al Ghurair Group of Companies, produces profiles ranging from architectural sections to components for household items, AC grills and customised products.

The company also extrudes products of several European suppliers and companies under agreement.