Sohar Launches Arab International Aluminium Conference 2017

Under the auspices of H.H. Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini Al Said, Assistant Secretary General of the Council of Ministers for Conferences, Sohar Aluminium, kicked-off the 2017 Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL). Running through November 9th, 2017, the event welcomed over 550 attending delegates from 35 countries and 64 industry leading speakers from a cross-section of industries, to share their insights on the challenges and opportunities around the aluminium industry.

After the official inauguration of the event by H.H. Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini Al Said, Assistant Secretary General of the Council of Ministers for Conferences, a series of high profile remarks took place. H.H. Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Secretary General for the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, delivered the event’s keynote address, focusing on the role the aluminium industry will play in the Sultanate’s ongoing diversification efforts.

H.H. Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Secretary General for the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, said, “While Oman’s many natural resources have been harnessed with considerable success, we need vision to unlock their full potential. This is something Oman has been able to achieve within the global aluminium sector since its emergence as a player only a few years ago. Locally, the industry has boosted job opportunities and created a valuable knowledge base regionally and internationally, which has contributed significantly in raising Oman’s profile.”

Kicking-off the event was Mr. Mohammad Al Naki, the Founder and Chairman of the Arab International Aluminium Conference, who said, “On a similar note, I would like to thank Sohar Aluminium, represented by Mr. Mulham Al-Jurf, the Chairman, and Sohar Aluminium’s CEO, Eng. Said Al Masoudi, for hosting this year’s edition of ARABAL.”

Host of this year’s edition, CEO of Sohar Aluminium, Eng. Said Al Masoudi took the stage next to welcome all stakeholders to Oman and said, “While like any industry we have our fair share of challenges, including rapidly changing market prices and a changing surplus within the market, today is the ideal opportunity to discover the most sustainable way forward.”

Eng. Al Masoudi added, “Our incredible story has been achieved thanks to the hard work of Sohar Aluminium’s biggest equity, our people, who continuously deliver excellence translating our vision a reality. It goes without saying, that by far the most important milestone we have accomplished, is nurturing and retaining a team of highly qualified experts.”

The schedule for the first two days of the conference is filled with presentations and discussion panels; day three features a site tour of Sohar Aluminium’s state-of-the-art facilities. Inaugurated alongside the conference was the ARABAL 2017 Exhibition, featuring a prestigious line-up of 43 companies featuring some of the world’s leading product and service providers of the aluminium industry, local downstream companies, all the primary aluminium smelters in the GCC and the Middle East, and a large delegation from the Quebec aluminium sector lead by Canada’s and Quebec’s Export Development Agencies.

Day One also saw the Arab International Aluminium Conference Appreciation Memento, recognizing the efforts of ARABAL’s last year’s edition host in Dubai, Emirates Global Aluminium. The Gulf Aluminium Council then introduced the very first “Community Service Award”, a most prestigious acclaim for outstanding contributions to the local public community and in recognition that the company recognizes that is has social, cultural and environmental responsibilities to the community where it operates. The Community Award was then presented to Sohar Aluminium.

The event’s most anticipated session did not disappoint. Session 1 featured the most senior executives of all the GCC and Middle East primary aluminium producers. Comprised of all ARABAL’s member companies, the six regional heavyweights discussed the current global economic situation, market challenges, as new supply and demand centres emerge.  

Highlighting the stature of the event, industry leaders from Norway, Australia, China, USA, Russia, Iran and India participated in a single session for the first time in ARABAL’s history. Representatives from aluminium giants Norsk Hydro, Rio Tinto, UC RUSAL, Aditya Aluminium India, Iranian Mines & Mining Industries (IMIDRO) and AZ China Ltd, tackled future demand for aluminium produced in emerging markets including the Middle East.

Making their debut on the programme’s schedule were novel themes such as the potential use of renewable energy sources, warehousing, and innovative aluminium among many others. In another ARABAL first, representatives from some of the world’s pre-eminent institutions and related stakeholders participated in a panel discussion on the global economic outlook for metal commodities. The panel comprised of representatives from the London Metal Exchange (LME), Thomson Reuters, and Bank of China International and Harbour Aluminium.

Joining the longlist of carefully crafted sessions, was a detailed research study on the implications of contemporary gas on the regional aluminium industry by a Professor Paul Stevens, Distinguished Fellow from Chatham House. Another presentation was given by London Metal Exchange about warehouses and storage facilities around the world for metal products.

Rounding out the first day was a high-impact panel covering the effects of tariffs in the Arabian Gulf, trade barriers, industrial opportunities and market trends in the fight for global market share.

Proceedings of day one, concluded with a cultural dinner. The stellar event was held in one of Oman’s stunning scenic locations to capture the beauty of Oman’s harmony with nature.  The dinner menu introduced the guests to the local traditional cuisine presented in a contemporary way. Tone of the main evening highlights were the world’s renowned composer and musician Toufic Farroukh with a band of 11 musicians. Their music represents a fusion of the Orient and the Occident at its best, and embodies the harmony between the western and the Middle Eastern culture through the best forms of art. Day 2 promises to herald even greater insights on all topics being discussed.

The event’s exhibition is open for free to members of the public, allowing residents from across Oman to meet a host of offerings and solutions by leading economic powerhouses from around the world. For more information about ARABAL 2017 and to see the full list of speakers, sponsors and exhibitors, visit www.arabal.com.