The Equal Opportunities Committee at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce held its second regular meeting this year, headed by Mr. Abdulaziz Alashraaf, Assistant Undersecretary for Control and Resources at the Ministry.

Alashraaf stressed that the committee is working on preparing a comprehensive plan to hold training courses, seminars and joint events with the Supreme Council for Women, affirming ongoing efforts to study and implement several proposals that contribute to expanding opportunities to support women in various departments at the ministry.

The meeting reviewed and discussed the committee's training plan for the year 2024, in addition to identifying ways to activate cooperation with the Supreme Council for Women to ensure the continuity of achieving equal opportunities and gender balance in the ministry and its affiliated sectors.

The meeting also reviewed training statistics and discussed a number of ideas and proposals that contribute to implementing the aspirations of women in the ministry in order to achieve equal opportunities and incentive policies, and enhance the provision of a supportive and stimulating work environment for Bahraini women working in the ministry.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched the Digital Business Champions Overseas Program first mentoring session which took place at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), with the participation of a number of leading mentoring companies.

The Director of Information Systems, Mrs. Maram AlMahmeed, stated a total of 142 licensed companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain have joined the program as beneficiary companies to attend the mentoring sessions. The first mentoring session has been attended by company and business establishment representatives of different nationalities to benefit from the mentors’ expertise to gain insights on their pioneering experiences in the field of exports through Digital Business and to get the necessary expertise to facilitate their entry to this field.

Adding that the program features specialized mentoring sessions designed to facilitate the exchange of valuable expertise in the fields of digital business and export. During these sessions, mentors share their extensive experience in the field of exports through digital business, offering insights into the innovative solutions employed to enhance product and service quality. Additionally, discussions cover the various challenges encountered in the field and proactive strategies for effectively overcoming them.

AlMahmeed noted that companies and establishments that qualify from this program will be selected and awarded the title of Digital Business Champions Overseas based on the digital transformation plan they provide at the end of the program to transform to Digital Business and then export overseas.

Notably, Alnafnoofi Online For Trading Via Internet was announced as the “eCommerce Champion” of eCommerce Champions Overseas in the first version of the program, due to its commitment to the work program and meeting all the criteria.

This year’s most prominent participants include Lalabella Events W.L.L, The Gentlemens Club Bahrain Clothing W.L.L, Alnafnoofi Online For Trading Via Internet, In addition to the participation of a number of digital business service provider companies, including National Bank Of Bahrain B.S.C, Aramex Bahrain W.L.L and Lion Impact Bahrain Online Operations.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received in his office MP Ahmed Al Salloum, Chairman of the Bahrain SMEs Development Society, and a number of Society members, to review the developments of the small and medium enterprises sector.

The meeting discussed many topics related to the SMEs sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the efforts to support and strengthen this sector, praising the association's vital role to the advancement and sustainability of this sector.

Bahrain SMEs Development Society Chairman MP Ahmed Al Salloum stressed the importance of consolidatingprospects of cooperation between the Society and various governmentagencies to benefit the national economy, expressing hisappreciation for thegovernment's efforts tosupport this vitalsector.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, visited a number of factories in Mina Salman Industrial Park, in the presence of a number of officials, to closely review the latest developments in their work and development and future programs, as part of the Ministry's constant efforts to follow up on the developments of factories and industrial zones in the Kingdom.

His Excellency visited Hempel Paints Company and BFG International Factory and was briefed on their current situation and production processes and services.

The minister affirmed the government’s keenness to support the industrial sector, and stressed the importance of its development as a key sector in the kingdom, noting the commitment to achieve the aims of the industrial sector strategy (2022-2026) to raise the contribution of the industrial sector to the GDP, and increase the exports of the industrial sector of national origin, and provide promising job opportunities for citizens, in addition to supporting the sector's transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced the launch of the "Consumer Friend" initiative for the second year in a row in coordination and cooperation with food and commodity retailers around the kingdom, starting July to November 2024.

In this regard, Shaikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, stressed that the "Consumer Friend" initiative aims to enhance social responsibility, by ensuring affordability of commodities and food products provided by the commercial sector to consumers, citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade said that the Consumer Protection Directorate at the Ministry launched this initiative with the participation of major markets to offer the lowest prices for food commodities and products, noting that the names of the commercial establishments participating in the "Consumer Friend" initiative will be published on the official websites of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, with lists of commodities and food products to ease accessibility for consumers to review goods and prices and compare between different shops

Shaikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa also called on all commercial establishments concerned with the sale of food commodities and products spread around the Kingdom of Bahrain to participate in the initiative of the Consumer Protection Directorate, in a step to enhance the principle of consumer protection and encourage competition to ensure consumer confidence in commercial establishments and achieve sustainability in the growth of business.

Notably, the “Consumer Friend” Initiative in its first edition, was launched from June to November last year, and achieved positive results, as the number of participants reached 49 commercial establishments, while the number of beneficiaries exceeded 300,000, with a total savings return of BD 250,000 for consumers.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, stressed the importance of supporting diversity in the commercial sector, to create an encouraging and stimulating environment for the private sector to attract more regional and international commercial projects in light of the advantages the Kingdom of Bahrain offers to supports the commercial and investment sector.

This came during the official opening ceremony of the 128th branch of Nesto Hypermarkets in Isa Town in the presence of the Minister of Industry and commerce, and a number of officials and stakeholders. Where His Excellency was received by Nesto Group's Executive Director Arshad Hashim and the Group’s Executive Director Nader Bardestani.

His Excellency the Minister praised this new addition to the Nesto Hypermarket chain, which offers many products that meet the needs of consumers in the region, wishing the chain of markets and its employees success.

Dr. Khalid Fahad Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the Caucasus Investment Forum 2024, which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, with the participation of more than 3,000 participants from more than 30 countries.

In his speech, Al-Alawi affirmed that the participation of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the forum reflects the depth of the strong bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, pointing to the fruitful results of the recent visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the Russian Federation, and Bahrain’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Chechen Republic in various fields.

Moreover, Al-Alawi pointed to the importance of enhancing investments through economic cooperation in promising sectors, especially in the industrial sector, which greatly intersect with the industries targeted in the industrial sector strategy (2022-2026) for the Kingdom of Bahrain, which include pharmaceutical and food industries, semiconductors, renewable energy and manufacturing industries in aluminum and petrochemicals, in addition to exchanging experiences and knowledge to push the dissemination of research, development and industrial innovation, and leveraging technology to meet challenges and encourage innovation to develop advanced and sustainable solutions that increase productivity of industries.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received Luigi Di Maio, the Special Representative of the European Union (EU) for the Gulf region.

The meeting discussed steps to boost cooperation between the two sides in all fields, especially economy, and a number of topics of common interest. 

The Minister hailed the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union, and their mutual commitment to enhance areas of cooperation to meets the ambitions of both sides and supports common interests.