MANAMA, 13 September 2004 — For the first time, the Bahrain Garden Fair 2005 will take an international dimension to help expand the kingdom’s agricultural landscape and strengthen cultural relations with participating countries.
“The annual event assumes greater significance as experts from around the world will help transfer knowledge of plantation techniques being used in their countries,” Sheikha Maysa bint Abdul Rahman Al-Khalifa, head of the organizing committee, told reporters here yesterday.
The organizers will tour the Gulf countries next month to attract a large number of participants by promoting the fair slated for March 3-6 at the BIEC Convention Center, Sheikha Maysa said.
“We will have experts and specialists from the Ministries of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs, Education, Housing and Works as well as universities in the kingdom to ensure that the know-how discussed is passed on to Bahrain,” she said.
Sheikha Maysa said Bahrain’s agricultural history coupled with the incentives it offers to international exhibiters would attract businessmen, tourists and visitors to the fair.
She said that besides being a trade exhibition, the fair would be a mechanism to promote greener and more productive environment. “The fair will be held under the patronage of King Hamad. We also have the support of various ministries and the private sector and we are confident that it will be a success,” she said.
“We are surprised by the tremendous support to the fair by industries and the private sector. It reflects their keenness to help protect and further develop our agricultural expertise,” she said. “Sponsors are welcome to support and take part in the event,” she said.
The organizing committee is using its website (www.bahraingardenfair.com) to promote the event and make it easier for participants to sign up for it. The website gives participants access to e-visa services and provides information about immigration, customs and other government agencies to help ease services for international participants.
Sheikha Maysa said the committee would begin its promotional tour in the Gulf in the first week of October, starting with Oman and the UAE to be followed by other GCC countries.
