EDB participates on Panel at Arab International Aluminium Conference

Dr Jarmo Kotilaine, Chief Economist at the Economic Development Board, has participated on a panel at The Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL) titled: ‘Bahrain at the Heart of Aluminium Downstream’.
The session focused on the importance of the aluminium sector as one of the leading contributors to the Bahraini economy, and reasons GCC smelters should focus on downstream development. Dr Kotilaine took part alongside high profile representatives including Mumtalakat, Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA), and Midal Cables.
Dr. Jarmo Kotilaine said:
"Bahrain was the first country in the GCC to discover oil and the first to start primary aluminium smelting. Today, we are one of the leading producers of aluminium globally. Bahrain is ideally positioned to take advantage of surging global demand for aluminium and aluminium products, particularly from Eastern markets, and have seen significant growth in downstream manufacturing."
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the organisers of ARABAL, is one of the leading aluminium smelters in the world and is renowned for its premium grade aluminium products. Established in 1971 as a 120,000 tonnes per annum smelter, Alba today produces more than 890,000 metric tonnes per annum of the highest grade aluminium. Recent years have seen significant growth in the downstream manufacturing area where a number of important players have established themselves, such as Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (Garmco), Midal Cables Ltd. and Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Co (Balexco).
ARABAL is the premium trade event for the Middle East’s aluminium industry and the only conference in the world attended by every single primary aluminium manufacturer in the region. ARABAL is being hosted for the fourth time by the Kingdom of Bahrain, and this year, it is expected to attract more than 700 delegates including key decision makers and industry leaders from all sectors of the aluminium industry in the region and across the world.