Alba eyes key German role in manufacturing sector

MANAMA: Alba is optimistic about more German participation in Bahrain’s manufacturing sector especially in the aluminium downstream cluster, the smelter’s chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa has said.

During his keynote address at the 24th Arab-German Business Forum 2021 at the Ritz-Carlton Berlin in Germany,

Shaikh Daij said: “Bahrain is one of the most friendly countries in the Middle East and we look forward to see more German participation in Bahrain’s manufacturing sector especially in our aluminium downstream cluster as Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project has added 540,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) to Alba’s +1,000,000 mtpa built-in capacity.”

Emphasising the long-standing partnerships between German companies and Alba, the chairman said: “Over the last fifty years throughout Alba’s expansion projects, German companies have been our trusted partners on many fronts due to their renowned technological expertise. We are truly proud of the strong ties that we have developed together with our German associates over the years.”

Alba’s chief executive Ali Al Baqali and chief marketing officer Khalid Latif were key members of the panel discussions at the forum.

As a panelist on the ‘Digitalisation: How Industry 4.0 can drive Diversification in the Middle East’ discussion, Mr Al Baqali gave a snapshot on Alba’s digital aspirations and referred to the company’s ‘Al Hassalah’ programme which aims to achieve $100 million in savings by end-2022.

During a logistics themed discussion, Mr Latif said: “We know the global logistics issue is a challenge for many, but such challenges are not show-stoppers for us as we are fully committed to finding ways and means to delivering our metal to our clients on time, and wherever they are.”

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/979363