Over 20,000 visitors will attend the 2013 Bahrain International Garden Show (Bigs) set to be the biggest yet, with a BD10,000 ($26,525.2) marketing push from the Bahrain Airport Company.

The event is expected to attract more international participation, and will be the first year ever that Bigs will be promoted throughout the high traffic passenger areas of the Bahrain International Airport (BIA), a statement from the organisers said.

“Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) is proud to support initiatives that promote the Kingdom of Bahrain as an important business destination, and Bigs certainly fulfills that role,” said CEO of Bahrain Airport Company, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah.

“BAC is providing Bigs with exposure to a potential audience of hundreds of thousands of people every month. More than 8.4 million passengers from all over the world passed through these areas in 2012, up 9 per cent from 2011, including many frequent visitors to Bahrain, residents and business travelers.”

The total media space being given to Bigs as part of the sponsorship package will consist of video and light box displays promoting the event throughout the airport, the statement said.

Organised by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (Niad), Bigs aims to promote agribusiness sector opportunities in Bahrain. It is expected to be attended by more than 20,000 visitors, including VIP’s, architects, consultants, developers, and other industry professionals, as well as hobbyists and retail consumers.

“Being able to showcase our event at Bahrain International Airport is a major benefit because it gives our show international exposure, which is what we are increasingly aiming for. Over the years Bigs has grown from a local event to an international one, attracting visitors and exhibitors from around the world,” said Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, general coordinator of Bigs. “Promotional support like media space we are getting at the airport will help to further increase its international exposure.”

In past years, the event has attracted exhibitors from the US, France, Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Thailand, and Japan, as well as all GCC countries.

Bigs will be held from February 28 to March 2, at the Bahrain International Convention and Exhibition Centre. It will be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the support of the King’s wife Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who is president of Niad. – TradeArabia News Service