Bahrain to host global aluminium industry experts

More than 300 of the world's aluminium leaders are set to meet in Bahrain later this month when Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) hosts the Commodity Research Unit's (CRU) 12th World Aluminium Conference.

The four-day event will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa from May 13 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Spa.

Senior executives from Germany, France, Canada, Australia, UK, US, China, Russia, Italy, Lithuania, India, Switzerland, Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Greece, Malaysia, Brazil, Japan, Denmark, South Africa, Turkey, Iceland and Solvenia have confirmed their participation.

Other countries to be represented in the conference include Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.

The conference is widely recognised as among the most authoritative in the world and attracts executives of most leading aluminium industries, organisers said in a statement.

It offers participants comprehensive updates and insights into the latest movements of the worldwide aluminium industry, they added.

Commerce and Industry Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro will deliver the welcome address and Alba chairman Essam Fakhro will deliver the keynote speech.

Other high-profile speakers will include Alba deputy chief executive Mahmood Al Daylami as well as the Global Primary Products and Alcoa Executive vice-president and president Bernt Reitan.

"CRU events boast an impressive track record of attracting top-quality speakers and delegates who are recognised industry leaders to their conferences," said Mr Al Daylami.

"This helps make the conference in Bahrain the ideal opportunity to meet individuals from every sector in the industry to exchange the latest news at the highest level.

"The conference will allow delegates the opportunity to network with more than 300 senior-level decision makers in the international aluminium industry.

"This in turn allows participants to gain the latest intelligence on the vital topics driving the aluminium industry from leading industrialists and economists.

"One of the most pressing issues we will be addressing the Bahrain conference is the role of the Middle East as the developer of new smelter capacity.

"We will also be reviewing raw materials with an emphasis on price developments, alumina, power and carbon products."