Second industry fair bigger and better

To be held from January 13 to 15 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Bahrain, The Gulf International Industry Fair 2009 has grown by almost a third in size over the 2008 event as the bookings continue to flow in, according to the Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE), the event's organiser.

The inaugural event, held over a net area of 2,700 sq m, attracted close to 100 exhibitors from 19 countries across the world, and its success has been reflected in bigger numbers for 2009, says Jubran Abdul Rahman, the managing director for the Bahrain-based HCE.

"Demand has once again surpassed our expectations, with floor space up more than 30 per cent," he says. "The number of exhibitors, meanwhile, is expected to reach 120, a substantial increase."

He continues:

"Major industry players from Saudi Arabia such as Pan Gulf Welding Solutions and the Alruquee Group - who were delighted by the 2008 show - will once again be present at the 2009 exhibition. With a floor area of 252 sq m, Pan Gulf Welding Solutions will be the biggest exhibitor at next year's fair, showcasing its specialised range of welding and cutting products which are used across the spectrum of industry."

"Other exhibitors were so impressed by the market response that they have substantially boosted their presence for 2009. They include Bahrain's Oilfield and Technical Supplies Centre (OTSC), which has increased its space from 112 to 203 sq m, and Saudi Arabia's industrial equipment specialist Khusheim, which has more than doubled its space to 216 sq m," he added.

The 2009 fair has also attracted several new participants, according to Abdulrahman.
They include Bahrain's Mimco Group - which is engaged in various business interests and has the backing and technical support of Slovakian companies - with 240 sq m space; Tamkeen (the new identity for the Labour Fund of Bahrain); Saudi Arabia's instrumentation expert Ashcroft Al Rushaid Instrument; and Bahrain's Atlas Industrial Supplies (AIS), an industrial tools specialist.

"As much as 80% of the exhibition space has already been sold out, and we are now well on course for another full house," Abdul Rahman adds.

The second edition of the Gulf Industry Fair is being held at a time when the region's manufacturing industry continues to diversify and grow from strength to strength, with billions of dollars being pumped into new projects across the Gulf.

And apart from mega projects, latest figures from the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) show that the number of small and medium industries (SMIs) has grown from 7,000 factories in 2002 to more than 10,000 in 2007 - an average growth rate of 43%, and an average annual growth rate of 7.4%.

The Gulf Industry Fair features 10 specialised segments: Gulf Aluminium, Gulf Metal, Gulf Machine Tools, Gulf Industrial Equipment, Gulf Energy, Gulf Metrology, Gulf Logistics, Gulf Automation, Gulf Manufacturing, and Industrial Areas and Free Zones.

The fair's key sponsors are First Leasing Bank of Bahrain and Baytik Industrial Oasis, which is a project of the Kuwait Finance House (KFH).

The fair also enjoys the support of Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bahrain Exhibitions and Conventions Authority, Junior Chamber International (JCI), the Russian-Arab Business Council, Jella Jella of the Netherlands.