Leading British companies got a glimpse of the vast aviation investment opportunities in Bahrain at an event organised by UK Trade and Investment and the British Aviation Group (BAG) in London last week.

The briefing, arranged in collaboration with the Bahrain Airport Company, included speeches and presentations by BAG deputy chairman Alan Lamond, Bahrain Airport Company chief executive Mohamed Al Bin Falah, British Embassy in Bahrain deputy head of mission Russ Dixon and EDB business development manager Emma Parsons.

The one-day event also included a series of one-to-one meetings with UK-based companies.

Bahrain Transportation Minister and Economic Development Board (EDB) acting chief executive Kamal Ahmed spoke to more than 50 British companies about the opportunities available in the aviation and transportation sectors in the kingdom.

The event was aimed at familiarising British companies with the opportunities available in the kingdom, particularly related to ongoing investment in the aviation sector.

"The event provided a strong platform to engage with key British businesses and showcase Bahrain's unparalleled regional connectivity by road, sea, and air, as well as the opportunities created by the ongoing investment in core transport infrastructure," remarked Ahmed.

"Our strategy will ensure that Bahrain continues to provide excellent connectivity across the region to support international investors looking to access the $1.5 trillion Gulf market," he added.

Dixon said 2016 would mark the 200th anniversary of friendship and strong bilateral relations between the UK and Bahrain, and British companies had made a significant contribution to the advancement of key sectors such as logistics, engineering and aerospace.

"Today 7,000 Britons work in Bahrain, making it the largest European community of expatriates, and events such as this will help attract even more British companies to Bahrain," he added.-TradeArabia News Service