Bahrain remains a regional hub for major conferences and exhibitions - despite the turmoil of the unrest, said a top government official.

Ninety per cent of the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) has already been booked out for the year with several conferences and exhibitions taking place and other potential events being studied, said Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro.

"This is a stamp of approval on the country's image and is evidence hundreds of thousands of visitors will come to Bahrain," he told our sister publication the Gulf Daily News on the sidelines of the fourth annual Food and Hospitality Expo.

"The numbers of exhibitors and visitors to the event has been increasing every year and this year, more than 100 exhibitors had come from several parts of the world."

Platform

The event, which concludes tomorrow, is being held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and is organised by the Bahrain Conventions and Exhibitions Authority (BECA).

Dr Fakhro said several kinds of exhibitions, from technical ones to those of interest to the public, were in the pipeline.

The food and hospitality expo provides a strategic platform for exhibitors, including retailers and large-scale buyers, in the manufacture and supply of food and hospitality products and services to display their goods and services.

Manufacturers and distributors of food packaging and kitchen equipment, food and beverage professionals, including caterers and chefs, and health experts are exhibiting at the event.

It features several live demonstrations, including cooking, fruit carving and cake decorating, tasting stations, chef competitions, healthy eating seminars and children's area.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi, accompanied by Dr Fakhro, opened the Second Health and Wellness Expo, at the BIEC.

The BECA-organised event is supported by the Health Ministry and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Al Shehabi said the event aimed to educate residents and citizens on how to live a good and healthy life.

"Industry professionals, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to network amongst themselves," he said.

Al Shehabi said representatives of several companies from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand and Cyprus and buyers, retailers, importers, exporters, distributors and doctors from all sectors were taking part.

Other activities at the three-day event include a massage zone, a children's health zone, a fitness and aerobics zone, a health and screening zone and a healthy cooking area where local chefs will have live demonstrations.

Both shows, at the BIEC's Hall 2, will run today and tomorrow from 10am to 6pm. Entry to both events is free. – TradeArabia News Service