Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has announced it is the gold sponsor for one of Bahrain’s most significant events – the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) 2016 - to be held from January 21 to 23 at the Sakhir Airbase.

BIAS 2016, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and under the direction of HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS, is being organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Royal Bahraini Air Force in cooperation with Farnborough International Ltd.

Alba’s chief executive officer Tim Murray commented: “Alba is proud to back this prominent event, which raises Bahrain’s profile at an international level, and adds value to the kingdom’s aviation sector. Our support highlights the company’s confidence in Bahrain as a key hub for the global aviation industry.”

Ahmed Al Nemah, acting undersecretary of civil aviation affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and a member of the supreme organising committee of the Bahrain International Air Show, was present during the sponsorship signing ceremony and expressed his thanks to Alba for its continued support and cooperation in making this event a success.

Earlier, in Russia, a Bahrain delegation, led by Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, signed agreements with a number of giant Russian aviation and defence industry companies for their participation in BIAS 2016. The companies included United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Rostec, Rosoboronexport and Ilyushin Finance Company.

The delegation was in Russia for the International Aviation and Space Show (MAKS) held in the country’s Zhukovsky district.

The minister expressed delight at attending MAKS 2015 as a guest of the Rostec company, lauding the massive participation of Russian companies in the show.

He affirmed Bahrain’s constant keenness on enhancing the ever-progressing solid relations with Russia to boost Bahrain’s economy, as well as those of GCC countries and Russia.

He praised Russia’s unprecedented and massive participation in BIAS 2016.

Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) is the silver sponsor of the air show.

The 2016 edition will include an exhibition feature hall focused on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and airport infrastructure. 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 opportunities of engagement for delegates and exhibitors with an overall aim of highlighting BIAS’s role as a networking event that establishes a unique platform for doing business.

Key conferences and networking events will also be hosted during the 2016 show which aim at further driving the event’s status as a key venue for high-level networking and business negotiations. These include a Hosted Buyer Programme and an “Air Transport in the 21st Century” conference that will take place on day two and day three of the show. The ‘Manama Air Power Symposium’ will also be held the day before the start of the show and will invite air force chiefs from over 20 countries in the Mena region and other key locations to discuss the leading issues of the day.

Participants to date include BAE Systems, Boeing, Felex (Italy), Rostec (Russia), Qatar Airways, Gulfstream, and Airbus amongst other international aviation civil and defence companies.