Dubal production up five per cent
Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) recorded a five per cent increase in production last year to 560,000 tonnes, the company said.

Dubal sold more than 616,000 tonnes of metal alloy products during the year, a seven per cent increase over the 2002 figures.
“Dubal is now harvesting the benefits from its previous expansions and its focus on key performance drivers,” said Mohammed Al Ghurair, the company’s managing director.
Dubal is currently in the middle of a project to increase its production capacity.

UDC partnership with Dubal off
Qatar’s United Development Company (UDC) said its partnership in a $2.1 billion aluminium smelter project with Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) had been abandoned.
“United Development Company of Qatar and Dubai Smelter Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Aluminium, announce that their participation for development of an aluminium smelter at Ras Laffan, Qatar, terminated in December 2003,” a UDC statement said.
UDC will continue to pursue the project and “acquire rights for state-of-the art aluminium reduction technology from one of the major international companies,” the statement said. It gave no further details.

More space provided at AAME
Manufacturers and traders of vehicle parts, accessories, tyres, batteries and garage equipment will have more space to display their products at the ninth edition of Automotive Aftermarket Middle East (AAME).
AAME has graduated to two halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), testifying to the rapid growth of the local industry, said show organisers International Expo-Consultants (IEC).
AAME will be held this year from March 28 to 30.
"With the regional spare parts market worth in excess of $11 billion, we are continuously striving to offer our exhibitors the best possible chance to be involved in a share of that," said IEC vice president Mohammed Falaknaz.

Kuwaiti team visits incubator
A delegation from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development visited the Bahrain Business Incubator Centre (BBIC), in Hidd recently.
The team included fund general manager Badre Meshari Humaidhi. The BBIC is looking for funding for its second phase expansion. The fund helped finance the first phase development of the BBIC. The BBIC opened in April 2003 with the aim of helping entrepreneurs create small and medium enterprises. It was initiated and developed by the Bahrain Development Bank with support from Unido and the Industry Ministry.
The project was implemented under the banner of Unido’s Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment Training.

Philippine jewellery to be on show
The leading Filipino costume jewellery designers’ and exporters’ association, FAME Foundation, has announced that it will be exhibiting its country’s top export earner, namely distinctive costume jewellery created from shells, stone, leather and other unusual materials, at the first International Fashion Jewellery and Accessories (IFJA) Fair, to be held in Dubai from the 22 to 24 March. 
“One of the exciting aspects of the fashion jewellery and accessories industry is the comparative freedom it enjoys in terms of the materials used to create items and its sources of inspiration,” said Emad Al Hawai, managing director, International Expositions, organisers of IFJA.

Iranian firm signs deal with Supra
An MoU was signed recently between Iran's Aria electronic company and Japan's Supra for the production of colour TV sets and household appliances. The head of the Iranian company, Saleh Vahedi, said the production capacity would be 180,000 colour TV sets and other household appliances annually.  That production will make up only half of the Iranian company's total capacity.
Vahedi said another agreement with another television manufacturer was scheduled to be finalised in three weeks for 50 per cent of the plant's capacity to be allocated to the manufacture of colour television sets.
Twenty-five per cent of all production will be exported.