Message from H.E. Dr. Hassan Bin Abdulla Fakhro
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Kingdom of Bahrain
and Chairman of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA)

It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to this Website, which highlights the status of the Kingdom of Bahrain as the ideal venue in the Middle East for holding local, regional and international exhibitions, conferences and seminars.

Bahrain has historically been an important trading nation and a prosperous entrepot centre, strategically located in the middle of major trading routes in the region. To maintain its status, the Kingdom of Bahrain developed its services industry including banking and other financial institutions, tourism and other essential services, making it the financial centre of the Middle East and the ideal gateway to the area as a whole.

The region boasts of a sizeable population with a relatively high purchasing power.

Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC) is one of the most modern facilities in the region for hosting exhibitions, conferences and seminars. It features state-of-the-art technology and a unique architectural style. It is also very convenient for staging sport and entertainment events.

The Ministry of Industry & Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain operates BIECC. The Ministry fulfills its mandate by regulating and licensing the holding of indoor and outdoor exhibitions and other events at the Centre and at all commercial venues throughout the country in the interests of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

With its well-developed physical and institutional infrastructures, including modern exhibition and conference facilities, regionally and internationally renowned hotels and restaurants and other amenities, cosmopolitan life style and friendly people, the Kingdom of Bahrain has become the ideal place not only for holding exhibitions and  conferences, but for tourists, too. It attracts well over two million visitors annually.

The Role of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, besides its role in formulating the industrial policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is also responsible for formulating the domestic and foreign trade policies of the country. Its main activities include the development of the trade sector, improving the industrial and commercial infrastructure and investment climate, promoting the export of Bahraini products and services overseas and creating commercial institutions clustered around information-based services. The Ministry also plays a vital and pioneering role in the development of e-Commerce in addition to supporting the e-Governance initiatives of the Government.

We assure you that the Ministry is committed to continuing the development and enhancement of the profile of Bahrain as the ideal place not only to hold exhibitions and conferences, but also as a place of choice to invest and engage in business. In keeping with this commitment, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has initiated the establishment of Bahrain Investor’s Centre, a strategic and virtual one-stop shop that helps investors in expediting the start-up and incorporation of their new businesses in the Kingdom.

Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA)
Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) is a government agency operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. It is responsible for promoting Bahrain as a world-class convention, exhibition and meetings venue. It also operates the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC), the largest venue for such activities in Bahrain.

The Authority helps organisers of international conventions, exhibitions and other events during business start-up and other related activities. It is a well-recognised body internationally. It is an active member of the AIPC - the International Association of Congress Centres in Brussels, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in Washington D.C., the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Association (AFECA) in Singapore, the Association of Exhibition Venues in London, the International Congress and Convention Association in Amsterdam, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) in Dallas, Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) in Chicago and the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) in Paris.

A busy forward Calendar of Events and confirmed bookings at BIECC extending well into the next four years have made it necessary to have a new exhibition centre for the Kingdom of Bahrain built in Sakhir near the Bahrain International Circuit. To be situated over an area of 145,000 square metres, the new, multi-million dollar project will be commissioned in 2013 and will be able to offer state-of-the-art exhibit and meeting facilities spread over an area nearly ten-fold than that of the current Centre. In addition to hosting exhibitions, this project will include leisure facilities, restaurants and hotels. 

We would like to reiterate that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and all other related Government agencies in the Kingdom of Bahrain are fully committed to providing you with all the necessary assistance and support to make your efforts to establish your  business and other endeavours a success.

We look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you to Bahrain.