E Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), has paid an inspection visit today to the venue of the new Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) project in Sakhir.

The Minister was updated on the latest developments in implementing the project, which has reached a 30 percent progress, and directed to remove all obstacles to ensure its completion as scheduled by end of the second quarter of 2022.

He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning for its supervisory role supporting the implementation of the strategic project.

The Minister affirmed that the project is the biggest one carried out by BTEA and will provide an exemplary venue to host international events.

He added the Centre will further attract the organising companies of exhibitions and conferences to hold their international events in it, noting that this will further promote the tourism sector in the Kingdom so as to diversify revenues and achieve the aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The inspection visit was attended by Eng. Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Khayat, Works Affairs Undersecretary at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Dr Nasser Qaedi, CEO of BTEA, Eng. Shaikh Mesha'al bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Construction and Maintenance Projects at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning,  and a number of officials and architects in charge of the project.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, received at his office today HE Mr. Patrick Simonet, Head of the European Union Delegation to Bahrain, residing in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the Minister welcomed praised the close friendship and distinguished cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union and its common interest in strengthening friendship ties and opening areas for cooperation to meet the aspirations of both sides.

Mr. Al Zayani stressed the importance of advancing broader horizons between both sides, in a way that supports the common interests of the two friendly countries.

The joint bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation mechanisms were reviewed, in addition to discussing issues of common interest​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, has recently chaired the first meeting of the Working Group to follow up on the recommendations made by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) during the Joint Economic Committee meeting between the Ministry and BCCI.

The Committee was formed based on the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to study and follow up on the implementation of BCCI's recommendations.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Sameer bin Abdulla Nass, Chairman of BCCI, and senior officials from the Ministry and the Chamber.

During the meeting, the Minister lauded the unlimited support provided by of the Government, led by HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the efforts to develop the national economy, as well as to confirm the role of the private sector in this regard.

Mr. Al Zayani highlighted the important role played by BCCI in stimulating the national economy, and enhancing the contribution of the private sector to the kingdom's GDP, praising the ongoing cooperation between the Ministry and BCCI to achieve the national interests, as well as the visions and strategies of the public and the private sector in the economic and development fields.

The meeting discussed the work mechanisms of the Working Group, and reviewed a number of topics of mutual interest.​​

As part of its constant efforts to support Bahraini innovation and inventors, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism organised a ceremony in honour of a number of Bahraini inventors, coinciding with the World Intellectual Property Day, which was held under the patronage of the HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and in the presence of Ms. Eman Ahmed Al Dossari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Shaikh Hamad bin Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade, and a number of senior officials in the Ministry.

During the ceremony, the Minister affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of the Bahraini youth energies and embraces all innovations and inventions of all kinds that contribute to the development of life in general and the prosperity of the Bahraini society in particular.

Mr. Al Zayani emphasised that these energies are a national treasure that everyone cherishes and an important partner in the development and growth of the national economy, where the Ministry works, with the participation of the concerned authorities, to provide more facilities to ensure the implementation of these inventions and their marketing locally and internationally.

A number of inventors, namely Mr. Muti' Hussain Ali, inventor of the automatic cupping tweezers, Mr. Jawad Mulla, inventor of the medical insertion device, Mr. Reza Bahman, inventor of the rotary axis device, and Ms. Amina Al Hawaj, inventor of the locomotor assistant device for the lower part of the body, presented a detailed explanation about the work mechanism of their inventions.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister granted certificates of appreciation to the Bahraini inventors, wishing them further progress and success to serve the Kingdom and its citizens.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, congratulated His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council, on the issuance of a Royal Decree, appointing His Highness as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C (Nogaholding).

The Minister asserted that the precious royal trust bestowed upon HH Shaikh Nasser by appointing him to the prestigious post reflects His Highness's great competence, efforts and role in serving the nation. He wished HH Shaikh Nasser every success in carrying out the visions of HM the King.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, held a phone call with Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis.

The Ministers reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation mechanisms in the tourism sector.

The two sides praised the bilateral relations which is witnessing continuous growth, which confirms the aspiration of the two countries for more cooperation for the good and benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples.

Minister Al Zayani discussed the developments of the tourism sector in the Kingdom and the efforts made by the Ministry and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) to enhance this sector and provide it with the elements that would improve tourism services and consolidate the ancient image of Bahrain to attract visitors from the region and the world.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, received at his office this morning Mr. Ghazi Faisal Al Rahma, Member of the Council of Representatives, and discussed with him several topics related to the economic and investment aspects in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In the meeting, the Minister reviewed  with MP Al Rahma aspects of cooperation, coordination and joint action between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and the Parliament.

In this regard, Mr. Al Zayani affirmed the Ministry's readiness to provide support and assistance to the Parliament and other concerned and relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, noting in this regard the Ministry's keenness to coordinate with all concerned parties to achieve the visions and strategies of the Respected Government and the aspirations of the Kingdom's citizens and residents.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism represented by Testing & Metrology Directorate chaired the forty-eighth meeting of the Technical Council of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) which has been held on Sunday 18th April 2021 virtually.  Bahrain delegation at the aforementioned meeting included Shaikh Hamad Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade, S.Ali Shubbar Jawad, Director of the Testing and Metrology, Ali AlHayki, Chief of the Metrology,  and Entesar Abdulaal  Chief of Standard Implementation and Quality Assurance.  The meeting came intended to discuss technical committees outcomes and mechanism of developing standardization work in the Member States. Where the council also recommended raising 228 draft standards and 38 Technical regulation for approval by the Ministerial Committee, as well as the strategy of the Gulf Standardization Organization for the years of  2021-2025.