The 18th annual Jewellery Arabia 2009 exhibition, currently under way at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, has won praise from Dr Hassan A Fakhro, Minister of Ministry of Industry and Commerce and chairman of Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA).

The event, which opened on November 17, is being held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. It will run till November 21.

The largest jewellery show in the region has positioned Bahrain once again as one of the world’s leaders in the jewellery exhibition industry, said a statement.

“Jewellery Arabia is one of the region’s premiere exhibits, and this year is the largest ever covering more than 19,000 sq m. Such a huge event requires superior management capabilities and both Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) and Arabian Exhibition Management (AEM) has surpassed itself with this event once again.  It is clear that Bahrain’s  jewellery exhibition industry is in a leading position when,  during a year of global economic slowdown the event has increased by 18.6 per cent - up from 506 exhibitors last year to 600 exhibitors this year,” said Dr Fakhro.

Jewellery Arabia 2009 exhibition covers the maximum space available at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and includes two additional tents that had to be put up to house exhibitors eager to take space. 

Dr Fakhro commented: “The enormity of the task of organizing such and event should not be overlooked and it is clear that a lot of work went into this being a magnificent show case for Bahrain.”  -TradeArabia News Service