Industrial heavyweights from across the region will converge on Bahrain next month for the 2016 edition of the Gulf Industry Fair (GIF), the GCC’s leading industrial expo.

 Held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the show will run from February 9 to 11 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC).

Organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), the event is strategically sponsored by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) of Bahrain and supported by Majaal, Ahmed Mansour Al A’Ali and the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry).

The show has eight zones: Aluminium, Energy and Environmental Protection, Industrial Metals, Industrial Process and Manufacturing, Industrial Safety and Security, Logistics and Industrial Facilities, Ports and Maritime Industries and Training for Industry.

GIF 2016 will have programmes dedicated to promoting innovation in industry. Ashcroft Al Rushaid Instrument, Dresser Al Rushaid, Tiseng Group, Sandwich Panel Factory and Alaa Industry from Saudi Arabia will participate in the innovation theme of the event.

An ‘Innovation for Industry’ forum supported by the Minister of Industry and Commerce will cover topics such as engines for industrial growth and innovative products for industry. It will also include the iTech Awards Presentation.

A two-day training programme titled ‘The Innovation and Lateral Thinking for Leaders Masterclass’ by Adi Breuer will focus on leadership development, executive impact and innovative approaches to leadership skills.

Also, a Career Day will guide those aspiring for a career in industries, with  recruitment specialist Gulf Connexions on hand to help attendees with CV presentations.

Bahrain-based exhibitors include Bin Hindi, Midal Cables, Grip Machinery, Alpha Fire Services, Ameeri Industries, Universal Electro Engineering (Uneeco), Metals of Bahrain, Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (Balexco), Arabian International Mechanical Contracting, Adams Offshore, Tebodin Middle East, Dhiya & Thomas Consultancy, BRC Weldmesh, Al Sharif International Freight Services, Gulf Markets International, Inter Care, Conpeed – Industrial Consultants, Taha International Corporation, Box Makers and Global Industrial Resources, to name a few. Returning exhibitors include cables giant Ducab from the UAE along with UK’s British Offset.

Gulf Industry Fair 2016 will also feature Knut Machine Tools from Germany.

Meanwhile, HCE is also gearing up to host its ‘3Gs’ – gulfBID, gulfInteriors and the Gulf Property Show – from April 26 to 28 at the BIECC. Kuwaiti Manager Building Materials and Equipment, a subsidiary of the Kuwaiti Manager Holding Company (KMC), has renewed its strategic sponsorship for gulfInteriors 2016.