HE Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro received in his office this morning Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Mr. Ni Ruchi.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially industrial, commercial and investment fields, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern.

The Minister referred to the kingdom's attractive economic environment, pointing to the positive effect of mutual visits between officials and businessmen in achieving growth, encouraging investments, increasing the volume of trade exchanges and joint economic cooperation between both sides. 

For his part, HE the Ambassador affirmed his country's keenness to strengthen and develop relations with Bahrain and increase the prospects of bilateral cooperation to serve both countries and their people.​

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, visited Al Ansari Group's Maktab Co-working space project, located in Gudaibiya. H.E. was received by Mr. Ahmed Abdulkareem Al-Ansari and Mr. Abduljalil Abdulkareem Al-Ansari from the Board of Directors of Al-Ansari Lighting Group, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, H.E. Ms. Eman Al-Doseri and a number of senior officials.

The Minister toured the company's workplace, and listened to a briefing on the project's work line, and the services provided by the company , as the project seeks to attract entrepreneurs, providing them with working space and giving a great opportunity for SMEs to develop their projects without worrying about cost of establishing headquarters for their companies.

Moreover, H.E. expressed his appreciation for the national companies that seek to attract entrepreneurs and help develop emerging businesses, stressing the Ministry's keenness to support and encourage these projects and national companies that contribute to the development of national economy, in order to achieve the kingdom's goals and aspirations.​

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, met Mr. Ahmed Abdulla Bin Hindi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahraini-Korean Friendship Society.

The Minister congratulated Mr. Bin Hindi on the formation of the Board of Directors for the Bahraini-Korean Friendship Society, and discussed ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation and exchanging expertise, as well as strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the fields of industry and trade.​

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce received in his office this morning Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of Bahrain Mr. Christos A. Poullaides.

 The Minister acknowledged the Consul's efforts and role in strengthening joint economic relations between Bahrain and Cyprus, reviewing the latest developments that attract investments to Bahrain and the facilities and procedures for localizing investments from the region and the world, stressing the role of mutual visits and highlighting their impact on the volume of trade exchange and joint economic cooperation.​

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce visited Showaiter factory in Muharraq Souq, where he met with Mr. Fouad Showaiter, Chairman of Fouad Hussain Showaiter Factory.

 ​H.E. the Minister stressed the role of the private sector and its continuous contributions in promoting economic growth as well as the distinguished partnership between the public and private sectors, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of its businessmen and their significant contributions to boost national economy.  

For his part, Mr. Fouad Shwaiter expressed his appreciation for the remarkable support provided by the Government, especially the easy procedures provided to commercial and investment institutions, stressing the importance of continuing mutual cooperation between the public and private sectors to serve the national economy and attract more investments to the Kingdom.

Under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, the SMEs Development Society held the annual Ramadan evening, in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development Khaled Fahad Al-Alawi, Mr. Farouk Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed, Honorary President of the Bahrain SMEs Development Society and its affiliated incubators, and MP Ahmed Sabah Al-Salloum, President of the Bahrain SMEs Development Society, in addition to a group of participants and officials at the Intercontinental Regency Hotel.

 
H.E. Al Alawi affirmed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to continue supporting all economic sectors, especially SMEs, noting the remarkable increase in its contribution to the GDP thanks to the governments support.

 
Moreover, Al Alawi pointed to the vital and effective role of the SMEs sector in supporting the national economy, noting that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce provides various facilities that promote this sector and contribute to its growth.

For his part, Mr. Farouk Almoayyed stressed his continuous support for entrepreneurs and SMEs, noting that this sector is the pillar of national economy, and that its development will contribute significantly to creating more job opportunities.

On the other hand, MP Ahmed Al-Salloum praised the government's success in achieving significant savings in the general budget for the fiscal years 2023-2024 by BD. 272 M for the fiscal year 2023 and about BD. 710 M for the fiscal year 2024, which proves the success of the fiscal balance program to bring the budget deficit to zero.

Al-Salloum praised the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, headed by H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, in supporting entrepreneurs by sponsoring events and programs provided by the Society to business owners and working to facilitate many things and overcome obstacles that face business accelerators and owners, expressing his hope for more support, in light of the rise of interest rates.

The evening discussed many topics and issues related to SMEs, in addition to honoring a number of media professionals, journalists and partners in appreciation of their efforts and continuous support for of the Society. 

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed the United Kingdom's role as a major global investment partner, noting the steady growth of economic relations between Bahrain and the UK, which reflects their distinguished historical relations.

This came as H.E. the Minister welcomed Mr. Tom Wintle, UK Chief Negotiator for the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in his office this morning, in the presence of Mr. Alistair Walker, Head of International Engagement, UK-GCC FTA, and UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Roderick Drummond, where they discussed a number of topics of common interest.

The Minister expressed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance economic cooperation with the UK in all fields, pointing to the role that the private sector can play in both countries and benefit from the advantages of the FTA, which contributes to achieving common goals and raising rates of trade and investment exchange between the two sides.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomes all investments that contribute to raising economic growth rates according to the Industrial Sector Strategy 2022-2026, and supports strengthening the economic position of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the objectives of comprehensive development.
 

This came as H.E. Minister of Industry and Commerce received Mr. Rajiv Reddy, Founder and Managing Director of Sanvira, where the Minister noted the investment climate in Bahrain, and the facilities provided by the Kingdom, which contributed to raising investment rates and attracting international companies that started their business in Bahrain, in addition to the remarkable development of the industrial sector in the country.
 

The meeting also discussed cooperation between the two sides, and a number of issues of common interest.​
 

Sanvira is one of the leading manufacturers of calcined petroleum coke, green petroleum coke, high-purity hydrated lime and high-purity quicklime.