BAHRAIN EDB HOSTS JOURNALISTS ON THE SIDELINES OF THE BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW 2016
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) hosted a delegation of business journalists this week from China and the GCC as part of efforts to highlight the Kingdom’s business environment to target international markets.
The journalists have attended the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow, which opened at the Sakhir Air Base, Kingdom of Bahrain, from the 21st to the 23rd of January 2016. The event, organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and Royal Bahrain Air Force, in cooperation with Farnborough International Ltd, was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. The BIAS 2016, under supervision of HM the King’s Personal Representative and Head of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS, HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is a valuable networking opportunity for the aerospace business community.
The journalists met this week with senior government and private sector officials including HE Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications; as well as representatives from Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Bahrain Bourse, Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP), Dragon City, and Huawei.
The trip also included cultural visits to the Bahrain Fort and Bahrain National Museum.
Leading publications represented include: Chinese media Global Times, 21st Century Business Herald and China Times as well as regional publications Arabian Business Arabic and Okaz Newspaper.
Ms. Vivian Jamal, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) commented:
“We are able, through visits like this, to present the numerous investment opportunities available in the Kingdom to international audiences and key decision makers globally. Chinese companies looking to expand into the region will learn about Bahrain’s key competitive advantages, including its skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, and Bahrain’s strategic location in the heart of the GCC”.
Trade between China, the third largest outward investor country in the world, and Bahrain has been expanding rapidly. In 2014 non-oil trade stood at US$1.98 billion, up from US$890 million in 2009. A number of Chinese businesses are already using Bahrain as the hub for their regional operations, such as Huawei, the global networking and telecommunications company.
The EDB has supported this growth by inviting Chinese businesses and media to visit the Kingdom to learn more about Bahrain’s investment climate, and the advantages of establishing regional headquarters in the Kingdom.