Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB) has announced its sponsorship of a key event which will be held during Great British Week next year.

Great British Week - which will run from January 15 to 22 - will be hosted in conjunction with the third Bahrain International Airshow at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The week's second event, the Advanced Engineering and Innovation Conference on January 18, is sponsored by EDB.

"Bahrain has long been considered the Gulf's technology pioneer, with its open and forward thinking approach and fast rate of innovation," Transportation Minister and EDB acting chief executive Kamal Ahmed said.

"We are proud of the long history of relations between our two countries and the significant contribution made by UK companies to the advancement of these key sectors including engineering, aerospace and advanced technologies.

"Today 7,000 Britons work in Bahrain, making it the largest European community of expatriates, and we hope to welcome even more British companies to the kingdom.

"We are committed to doing what we can to help them to establish their regional operations in the kingdom," he added.

The event will see more than 200 delegates and exhibitors participate with support coming from leading British companies such as Rolls Royce (Aero), BAE Systems and McLaren Automotive.

Seminars featuring McLaren Automotive, McLaren Applied Technologies and Rolls-Royce will encourage business-to-business and networking opportunities while exhibits from many leading technology companies will underpin the value of the event to the business community.

McLaren Automotive will use the BIC event to demonstrate its recently launched ground-breaking supercar, the McLaren P1, and delegates will be given the chance to experience the Formula One track from the seat of the company's McLaren 12C.

Three anchor activities - The Knowledge Conference, Advanced Engineering and Innovation Event and a celebration dinner - comprise the programme of events during Great British Week, organised by the British Embassy, the Bahrain British Business Forum and the British Council. - TradeArabia News Service