JEDDAH, 27 April 2005 — The first Arab Cable Conference commenced yesterday in Bahrain to discuss the development of cable manufacture in the Arab world. The two-day conference is being held under the patronage of Abdullah ibn Salman ibn Khalid Al-Khalifa, minister of electricity and water. Dr. Mohamed Gamaluddin Bayoumi, secretary general of the Arab Investors Union, was the official spokesman and keynote speaker for the forum.
The forum addresses issues affecting the cable industry in the Arab world such as sea and land transportation facilities between the Arab states — including the Arab Transportation Federation and several key seaport presidents in the Arab states.
Other topics include the exchange of expertise between Arab companies, countering the dumping policy pursued by foreign companies in Arab markets, establishing Arab laboratories to issue technical compatibility certificates for Arab-made products, standardizing Arab technical specifications and coordinating Arab production capabilities based on constructive integration and not harmful competition and dumping.
The conference is hosted by a Bahraini company, Midal Cables, which is also supporting the event as a gold sponsor. Other gold sponsors are Saudi Cables, Riyadh Cables and Nexans Maroc.
Abdullah drew attention to the changes and developments currently being witnessed by the Arab world and said, “We must not forget to take into consideration the effort required on our parts to keep abreast of the rapid developments in today’s world and remain ahead of others, ensuring that we retain a strong economic position on the marketing map that suits our high-quality products.”
He also expressed his appreciation to the Arab Council of Ministers of Electricity for the amount of time and energy they have invested in the development, cooperation and coordination of efforts in the production, transportation and distribution of electricity among Arab states, saying that these efforts contributed greatly to the linkage of power networks in the Levant and North African states.
A total of 38 Arab cable manufacturers, four of which are Saudi, agreed upon the formation of the “Arab Cable Manufacturers Forum” (ACMF), at a meeting held in Cairo last year, in order to group Arab power and telephone cable manufacturers. Participants unanimously agreed to base the forum’s executive secretariat in the Kingdom of Bahrain, hosted by Midal Cables.
Hamid Al-Zayani, secretary general, executive committee & managing director, Midal Cables Ltd. commented, “We at the ACMA are optimistic about the outcome of the conference, which will give a new dimension to the cable manufacturing and business in this highly specialized field. The Arab region is witnessing a construction and development boom and the cable industry plays a pivotal role in the infrastructural development.”
“The conference will be an ideal forum for the cable industry to exchange ideas and discuss joint strategies and solutions to overcome any obstacles and difficulties that may hinder further development and progress,” he concluded.