Within the framework of the China-GCC Industry and Investment Forum, Dr. Khaled Fahad Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, participated as a keynote speaker in the Investment and Cooperation Forum in Digital Economy, organized by the People's Government of Xiamen Municipality, and the Development and Reform Commission of Fujian Province, at the International Convention Center in Xiamen, China.

Dr. Al-Alawi gave a presentation on Bahrain’s experience and its initiatives aimed at pushing the automation of manufacturing and digital transformation in the industrial sector to achieve an advanced and sustainable industry, reviewing the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to encourage advanced manufacturing through the "iFactories" initiative, which was launched as part of the Industrial Sector Strategy. (2022-2026)

Moreover, Al Alawi highlighted areas of supportthat leadingChinese institutions can providein thefield oftechnology by upgradingproduction lines andproviding technologies of the Fourth IndustrialRevolution, most prominently robotics, theInternet of Things and artificial intelligence.

The forum aims to stimulate the multiplier effect of data elements and accelerate the development of new productivity with the participation of more than 200 officials and stakeholders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and China, as well as a number of GCC and Chinese companies.

The forum also discussed a number of themes and topics, including seizing digital opportunities, building a multilateral digital economy society, relying on connecting digital infrastructure and expanding a new space for cooperation, in addition to focusing on interconnecting trade and digital investment, creating a new model of cooperation, focusing on connectivity of training digital talents and exploring new areas of cooperation.