Alba signs Associate Centre Partnership Agreement with the World Economic Forum
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, has inked an Associate Centre Partnership Agreement under the Advanced Manufacturing Industries Cluster with the World Economic Forum (WEF), in a signing ceremony led by Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali and WEF’s Head of Global Partner Development and Member of the Executive Committee, Alexandre Raffoul, on 04 March 2024 at Alba premises.
The signing ceremony was also attended by key representatives from both parties: Chief Supply Officer Waleed Tamimi and Operational Excellence Manager Ahmed Bahar from Alba in addition to the Regional Manager - Business engagement, Middle East and Africa, Joanna Lahham, and Community Curator, Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, Ian Cronin, from WEF.
This three-year partnership offers significant opportunities for Alba to facilitate collaboration with industry leaders, policymakers, and experts within the Advanced Manufacturing ecosystem; access best practices and insights from global leaders in sustainability, technology, and industry trends; foster an environment for creating innovative solutions to address critical industry challenges, as well as gain valuable knowledge and insights to inform strategic decisions regarding sustainability, technology, and global trends.
Commenting on this partnership, Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali emphasised the Company’s commitment to positive change through leadership and collaboration:
“As a corporate global citizen, Alba is committed to driving positive change through leadership and global cooperation. We are excited to partner with the World Economic Forum, a platform for exchanging expertise and best practices in key domains like Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Supply Chain.
This partnership will further strengthen our position as a global leader and accelerate our digital transformation journey, potentially leading to inclusion in the prestigious Global Lighthouse Network, a leading platform for collaboration and learning related to advanced Industry 4.0 technologies.”
Alexandre Raffoul, Head of Global Partner Development and Member of the Executive Committee at the Forum, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Alba as a partner of the World Economic Forum, this collaboration aims to support Alba and the Kingdom of Bahrain in anticipating global trends and accelerating digital transformation. This partnership aligns with the Forum’s mission for shaping the future of advanced manufacturing and supply chains, focusing on Industry 4.0 applications, fostering the realization of net-zero industries, and driving responsible growth.”
WEF’s Global Lighthouse Network is a platform for manufacturers to use fourth industrial revolution technologies to transform factories, value chains and business models for better productivity and sustainability gains.