Bahrain's head of civil aviation is at EBACE to send a clear message to the industry - Bahrain is open for business.

Capt Abdul Rahman al Gaoud was at the show this morning to sign the 30th company for the Bahrain air show, which takes place next year at Sakhir airbase on 19-21 January.

Swiss firm Comlux - which has already set up a base on the island Gulf state - signed the deal today following companies such as Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Cessna, Mena Aerospace and TAG,

"There are only 40 chalets at the event. We have already sold 30 and we have 11 people chasing for contracts now," Al Gaoud said.

"There has been a lot of concern about the situation in Bahrain, but the state of national emergency is lifted at the end of the month. We are expecting the Formula 1 Grand Prix to return later in the year and as far as civil aviation - and business aviation in particular - is concerned, things are going from strength to strength."

A new fixed-base operation is being built and other improvements are taking place at the international airport.

"We are seeing growth in training and maintenance activities too," Al Gaoud said. "There has been a lot of exaggeration about the situation in Bahrain. It is and remains a great place to do business."

Source: Flight Daily News