Panel formed to study textile crisis
Bahrain has set up a committee to study the crisis gripping its textiles sector after three more factories were reported on the verge of shutting down.

The committee will comprise representatives from the Labour Ministry and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU).
The three factories have sent letters to the ministry, complaining of plunging sales, fierce competition from abroad and dumping in the markets.
More than 200 workers from at least three factories have protested at the ministry complex over the last two days after losing their jobs. GFBTU deputy chairman Sulaiman Jaffar criticised the sacking of the workers as “outrageous”.

Big profit jump
The Ras Al Khaimah Company for White Cement and Construction Materials has posted a 330 per cent jump in its net profits during 2004 compared to 2003 figures.
Earnings stood at a high of Dh40.7 million ($11.1 million) for the year ending December 31, 2004, Ahmad Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, chairman, said.
The company’s net profit for 2003 was Dh9.4 million.

TIS headquarters opened
AlMansoori Specialised Engineering has opened its purpose-built Tubular Inspection Services (TIS) headquarters at the group’s Mussafah facilities in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The new headquarters offers more than 7,000 sq ft of testing floor space. The facility also includes managerial offices, state-of-the-art training suites and industry-specific climate-controlled inspection bays.
AlMansoori is a leading oilfield supplies and services company.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony of the TIS headquarters was conducted by its president, Hilal Mubarak AlMansoori. Present was the MD, Nabil Alalawi.