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Plans to stage GREAT British Week, as highlighted in last week’s GulfWeekly, were unveiled by British Ambassador Iain Lindsay and Khalid Al Zayani, chairman of the Bahrain British Business Forum, at a launch ceremony at the British Embassy in Manama.
Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad, the event will run from January 15-22, 2014. Hosted in conjunction with the third Bahrain International Air Show, the GREAT British Week is an important part of the build-up to mark the 200th anniversary of bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Bahrain.
The GREAT British Week is designed to emphasise the friendship between the two kingdoms, while exhibiting Britain’s tradition of world-class engineering and technology skills.
Events planned for the week will showcase the long-standing business links between the two countries with conferences and events being organised within the British and Bahraini communities.
On display in the embassy grounds were a Union Jack-painted Mini, two gleaming Triumph motorcycles and a mighty McLaren sports car.
There are many leading UK companies based in Bahrain, such as McLaren Automotive, Ernst & Young and Standard Chartered, taking advantage of the kingdom’s skilled local workforce, competitive tax rates and tried and tested regulations.
Bahrain will be outlining, too, how the kingdom is an ideal platform from which international businesses can access the $1.5 trillion Gulf market by establishing their regional operations on the island.
Three anchor activities comprise the programme of events which is organised by the British Embassy, the BBBF and the British Council. The first of these is the Knowledge Conference supported by Brunel and Ahlia Universities.
The event, which is open to the public, will highlight the strong and longstanding relationship between Bahraini and British universities. It will promote the many areas of collaboration including scientific research and development, design, innovation and the growth of post-graduate courses.
The historical link to fast moving technology, especially in Formula One, is the backdrop to the week’s second event, the Advanced Engineering & Innovation Conference to be held at the Bahrain International Circuit and staged on the final day of the air show.
The event, sponsored by the Economic Development Board will see over 200 delegates and exhibitors participate with support coming from leading British companies such as Rolls Royce (Aero), BAE Systems and McLaren Automotive. Seminars featuring McLaren Automotive, McLaren Applied Technologies and Rolls Royce will encourage business-to-business and networking opportunities while exhibits from many leading technology companies will underpin the value of the event to the business community.
McLaren Automotive, partly owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, will use the BIC event to demonstrate its ground-breaking supercar, the McLaren P1, and delegates will be given the chance to experience the Formula One track from the seat of the marque’s McLaren 12C.
Mr Al Zayani said: “The relationship between Bahrain and Britain goes back many, many years and the strong business links between our two countries are what make the promotion of this week so important. Of particular significance is the chance to demonstrate the friendship and historical ties that have made the Kingdom of Bahrain such an important trading partner with Great Britain over the years.”
The final event of the GREAT British Week will be a Celebration Dinner, which will showcase other formidable British exports; notably fashion and cooking. Sponsors of this event include a range of great British high street brands operated by Alshaya Trading Co, including Debenhams, Mothercare, River Island, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfrdige, Evans, Wallis, Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and The Body Shop. A high street fashion show will entertain dinner guests while they are treated to the traditional tastes of Britain.
The week will be brought to its conclusion with a trip through Britain’s celebrated music history with a montage of hit songs from the long list of British bands that have headed the charts around the world and across generations.
The British Ambassador has also called on the broader community to become involved in the event. “British companies, their families and individuals have enjoyed a long relationship with the kingdom and have, over the years, made a significant contribution to the global awareness of Bahrain, not only as a trading nation, but as a friendly and hospitable place to live.”
