A vibrant 2012 is expected by Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) with an increasing number of specialised international B2B exhibitions and major international events already booked as of date.

This was revealed by Industry and Commerce Minister and BECA chairman Dr Hassan Fakhro at a quarterly board meeting yesterday.

For the first half of 2012, major events lined up at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIEC) include Arabian Mechanical, Engineering and Plumbing, Bahrain International Garden Show, International Autumn Fair, Gulf Industry Fair, Food and Hospitality Exhibition, the 10th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, Bahrain First Green Tech Expo, Education and Training International Exhibition, the 15th International Book Fair, Bahrain Information Technology Exhibition, the second Expo Science Asia, Health and Wellness Expo, gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS, eighth Middle East Refining and Petrochemicals Conference and Exhibition and Aircon Exhibition.

Other highlights include the Best Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Destination in the Middle East for 2011 Award given to BIEC by the Business Destination Travel Awards 2011 organised annually by Business Destinations of the UK for the authority's contribution to the development of MICE and reflects Bahrain's prominent position as the ideal venue of events, exhibitions and conventions and its well-developed and expanding infrastructure, friendly trade and business environment and world-class lifestyle facilities. – TradeArabia News Service