The Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body and operator of the Bahrain International Airport, has been named as the silver sponsor of the Bahrain International Airshow 2016, by the Supreme Organising Committee.

The event will be hosted at the Sakhir Air Base from January 21 to 23, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, said a statement.

The fourth edition of the event is being organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Royal Bahrain Air Force in association with Farnborough International.

The sponsorship agreement was signed between the acting undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs and member of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS Ahmed Nemat Ali, and the chief executive officer of BAC Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah.

The continuous support of BAC as one of the key Bahraini companies sponsoring the international event is a testament towards the success of BIAS since its launch, said Ali.

The organising committee is looking forward to strengthening the aviation industry and positioning the kingdom as an innovative hub, further attracting international investments while positioning the Bahrain International Airport as a leading player in the region, he said.

The support received from BAC further enhances Bahrain’s position and aims to boost the commercial and economic sector as well as showcase the kingdom’s capabilities and success in hosting international events, he stated.

“We are proud to sponsor the fourth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow. This sponsorship provides us with an excellent opportunity to continue our efforts and further cement the position of Bahrain International Airport as an attractive hub for airlines and passengers. The high-level aviation event aims to attract the most prominent aviation professionals looking to access the Middle Eastern market,” said Al-Binfalah.

The 2016 edition will include an exhibition featuring unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). With the continuing expansion of the UAV market, strong demand is expected from businesses that are looking to exploit both the commercial and defence applications of the sector.

The civil and military delegation programme will also provide extensive engagement opportunities with an overall aim to highlight BIAS’s role as a unique networking platform.

Key conferences and events will also be held during BIAS 2016 which aims at further enhancing Bahrain’s position as a key venue for international events.

The programme will include a ‘Hosted Buyer Programme’, ‘Air Transport in the 21st Century Conference’ held during the first two days along with a symposium dedicated for Air Force chiefs representing various Middle Eastern countries, said the statement.

The symposium will be held a day prior to the event and will tackle key and pressing issues facing the industry, it added. - TradeArabia News Service