Glass, Ceramics, Minerals & Mining show opens

The show, which has been expanded for the first time to include the minerals and mining sectors, will feature over 40 exhibitors from 12 countries.

The Italian glass-processing machinery and accessories suppliers' association (GIMAV) is making its Middle East debut at the show, which is organised by International Expo-Consults (IEC). The association represents more than 90 per cent of Italian companies operating in the glass manufacturing sector.

Also making its regional exhibition debut at the show is The Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services For Export - the national voice for Canada's mining industry. The association represents over 250 leading Canadian companies supplying the entire mining industry spectrum, including mineral exploration, mine development, mining, mineral processing, environmental monitoring, smelting and refining.

And the Pretoria-based Council for Geoscience (CGS), one of Africa's top geological organisations, is using the show, the only one of its kind in the Middle East, in a bid to develop ties between the Gulf's burgeoning mining sector and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

'South Africa's large mineral resource base and the Middle East's vast energy resources offer the opportunity for closer economic integration,' said Deon Van Niekerk, Scientific Officer, CGS. 'We see the Middle East as a major future producer of a range of industrial products which require energy use, such as glass, ceramics, fertilisers and inorganic chemicals for export into Central Asia and the Indian Ocean Rim from Iran to Indonesia.'

CGS carries out geological mapping, geo-chemical surveys, ground water investigations, coastal erosion studies and seismic hazard assessments. It is currently working on a project in Fujairah and has previously undertaken work in Oman.

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