ALBA, one of the world’s top smelters, lent its support to the Bahraini Government’s efforts to attract inward investment, saying it was moved by its own success story to do so.

The company also provided sponsorship support for the 16th International Arab Aluminium Conference & Exhibition (Arabal 2012) held in Doha.

Tim Murray, Alba’s CEO, joined the CEOs of other Middle East smelters during a panel to talk about the future prospects of the aluminium Industry in the Middle East as well as the changes that will shape the future of the smelters in this region.

Commenting on Alba’s sponsorship support for Arabal 2012, Alba’s chief marketing officer, Jean Baptiste Lucas, said: “As the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East, Alba is proud to support any initiative that increases global recognition for the region as a fast emerging hub for aluminium production. With smelters reducing capacity or closing down in many parts of the world, the Middle East continues to demonstrate a positive trend with production on the upswing along with announcements of new smelters being launched. Alba is certainly proud of its association with Arabal and is confident that it will play a key role in raising the region’s profile on the international stage.”

The company, in other activities in recent weeks, shared its safety expertise with a team from Sabic’s steel firm Hadeed.

Support for the investment drive came in the shape of sponsorship of the Invest in Bahrain forum held at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. An Alba statement said the support was “a tangible demonstration of the company’s recognition of Bahrain’s continuing role as a regional magnet for investments and a pioneer in investor-friendly policies.”

The Invest in Bahrain forum was organised under the patronage of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and backed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Central Bank of Bahrain, the Economic Development Board of Bahrain, Tamkeen, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of GCC Chambers.

“The story of Alba’s success and its transformation into the world’s fourth largest single-site aluminium smelter remains one of the best possible examples of how Bahrain’s investor-friendly economic policies have delivered results,”  said the chairman of Alba’s board of directors Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji. “Bahrain’s leadership has played an inspiring role in developing the framework of a strong, modern and competitive industrial state that’s ranked amongst one of the world’s freest economies.  It is definitely Alba’s success story that provides the key incentive for our support for the Invest in Bahrain forum.”

A Hadeed presentation at Alba

HADEED TEAM
Alba’s commitment to strengthening ties with regional companies and bolstering areas of cooperation was given an impetus with the recent visit to its plant by a delegation from Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabic.

Murray welcomed the delegation led by the chairman of Hadeed and Alba’s board member Abdulaziz Sulaiman Al Humaid as well as the president of Hadeed, Hasan Al Gannam.

The Hadeed delegation gave a presentation on the steps taken by both Hadeed and Sabic in promoting safety standards, in inculcating safe behaviour amongst employees and in ensuring safety targets are consistently achieved.

Present were Alba’s chief operations officer Isa Al Ansari, chief marketing officer Lucas, chief support functions officer Bassem Al Sharqi, acting chief finance and supply officer Ali Al Baqali and managers from different departments.

“Alba and Sabic have a long and fruitful association not only because Sabic owns a stake in Alba but also because this partnership exemplifies a tangible demonstration of the close ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hadeed, a subsidiary of Sabic, has done immense work in promoting safety and it was a privilege to learn of their experience and also share with them the processes in use at Alba,” said Murray.

A film, shot at the Alba plant by Hadeed employees and produced in cooperation with Alba’s health, safety and environment department, was screened at the presentation. The Hadeed delegation was later taken on a tour of the plant and briefed on the aluminium production process as well as on the positive impact Alba has made on the economic, industrial and community life in Bahrain. 

Alba has been consistently ranked as one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world.