Billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects undertaken by the GCC public sector during the challenging economic times proves the resilience and vibrancy of the economies of the region, an expert said.
“Infrastructure is the key to development and progress. This is a truth the world is re-learning today as it slowly emerges from the debilitating impact of recessionary conditions that have plagued the economies of most nations, including the GCC region, over the past couple of years,” Majeed Al Gassab, President, Bahrain Society of Engineers told the opening session of the of the Infrastructure Middle East Conferences and Exhibition 2011, which opened yesterday.
“In fact, major infrastructural projects taken up by regional governments during this trying period have played more than a significant part in bringing order and vibrancy to their economies,” he said.
“That’s why I see the Infrastructure Middle East 2011 Conference and Exhibition as a key event for all of us assembled here today and I invite everyone present here to actively participate in its deliberations so we can chart our path for the future and I wish all of you success in achieving your objectives,” he added
“On behalf of the organising committee and the Board, I would first like to express my gratitude to the Minister for his continuing support and encouragement to us in all our endeavours to focus on the critical subject of infrastructure development for the modernisation of our country and the benefit of our citizens,” he said.
“I would also like to thank the Ministry of Works for its vital backing without which it would not have been possible for us to host this important event for the second consecutive year.”
Earlier, Essam Bin Abdulla Khalaf, Minister of Works, inaugurated the conference during a ceremony attended by senior government officials, dignitaries, investors, sponsors and exhibitors.
“This is the second conference we are organising on the crucial subject of infrastructure development in the Middle East. The earlier conference ‘Underground Infrastructure Middle East 2010’ had focussed on transportation infrastructure and the supply and discharge systems that form the backbone of the functionality of cities. The 2011 event seeks to build on its success and learning, widening its scope to include three segments, namely ‘Underground infrastructure’, ‘Water and waste water’ and ‘Traffic and transportation’ that will be taken up for discussion concurrently under the umbrella of ‘Underground Infrastructure Middle East 2011’. As in the previous edition, the deliberations will be centred on planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the utilities that ensure that our people enjoy a comfortable and convenient lifestyle with a high standard of living,” said Khalifa Al Mansoor, Conference Chairman and Assistant Undersecretary Sanitary Affairs, Ministry of Works.
“The theme of this year’s conference – ‘Building the Future’ – is highly appropriate and in line with ‘Bahrain Economic Vision 2030’, which the Ministry of Works is steadfastly seeking to achieve by generating and sharing knowledge through conferences such as the present one in order to modernise the infrastructural base of Bahrain through the adoption of world class technologies and management systems. The Ministry has always played a pivotal role in establishing sustainable service supply and delivery systems that can provide higher quality services to our citizens,” he added.
The three-day conference features eight keynote addresses on day one following the opening ceremony. The following two days will see 45 speakers presenting technical papers in three sessions that will run in parallel. In addition more than 30 Companies from the Gulf region and Europe will participate in the exhibition organized in parallel to the conference, while the Conference Committee has scheduled two field trips at 3.00pm on day three.
The deliberations will cover all relevant technical and managerial aspects of infrastructure development, including sewerage, gas, water, power, district heating/cooling and telecommunication systems; water resources treatment and management; waste water and sludge treatment; re-use of treated waste water; and transportation, which covers roads and railways as well as activities and futuristic technologies such as tunneling.
As many as 29 international companies, including many from the GCC region, have already booked 41 stands at the exhibition complex.