H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Chairman of the National Committee for Standardization and Metrology and member of the Gulf Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the eighth meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs, which was held this morning in Qatar, with the participation of Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, and the heads of delegations members in the GCC Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs.

His Excellency stressed the importance of strengthening partnership with standardization bodies in the GCC countries to enhance the sustainability of their cooperation and integration.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the seventy-sixth meeting of the Trade Cooperation Committee, hosted by Qatar, with the participation of the GCC Ministers of Commerce, and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), H.E. Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi.

The minister affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s support for integration, cooperation and coordination with GCC countries in various fields.

The meeting discussed topics on the agenda, including the unified mandatory legislative framework for electronic and digital trade in the GCC, developments in GCC commercial laws, the participation of the GCC countries in Gulf and international events, and reviewed the work of the committees of the Trade Cooperation.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness to continue efforts of cooperation, coordination and exchange of experiences and knowledge to enhances and support GCC economic work, especially in the industrial sector based on advanced technology, innovation and technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, noting the GCC countries’ commitment to strengthening this cooperation, and placing it among the priorities of joint action for the upcoming period.

This came during the 53rd meeting of the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee, held in Doha in the presence of H.E. Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, and the GCC Ministers of Industry.

The meeting discussed a number of issues of common interest, which would contribute to the advancement of the GCC industrial sector.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, visited a number of factories in Salman Industrial Zone, as part of the Ministry's efforts to follow-up on all developments in the industrial sector.

During the visit, the Minister praised the development of the industrial sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the expansion of cooperation between the public and private sectors, stressing the importance of supporting innovation and technology in enhancing the competitiveness of local industries.

Moreover, the Minister was briefed on the latest projects of active factories and modern technologies used in production. His Excellency affirmed the Ministry's commitment to support investors by facilitating procedures, and receiving their complaints and suggestions in order to improve the business environment in the Kingdom.

The visit included UCO Engineering Factory and BAFCO FOOD factory.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received in his office this morning H.E. Esen Çakıl, Ambassador of Türkiye to Bahrain.

The Minister stressed the depth of relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Turkish Republic in various fields, most notably commercial development. The meeting also discussed a number of topics of common interest and ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation.

For her part, H.E. Esen Çakıl, expressed the keenness to continue enhancing prospects of cooperation to achieve common bilateral goals and aspirations.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce received in his office today H.E. Fahad Mohammed Salem Kardous Al Ameri, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Bahrain.

During the meeting, the Minister praised the depth of historical relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and the continuous development of bilateral relations between the two countries in light of the support and patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

Aspects of cooperation were also reviewed, and the efforts to enhance and develop them in all fields, especially in the commercial aspect.

On the sidelines of the GCC Ambassadors’ FTA meetings in London, HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, met with Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, British Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security, where they discussed bilateral investment cooperation and new opportunities to expand the existing partnership, and achieve mutual visions and aspirations.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce affirmed that the United Kingdom is a key investment partner at the global level, and that economic relations continue to witness steady growth. Highlighting the importance of the Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and the UK, which will constitute a significant historical turning point in the well-established trade and investment relations between the two sides.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce affirmed the depth of historical relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, especially in the fields of trade and investment, strengthened by their mutual commitment to boost economic cooperation.

This came His Excellency’s participation as a keynote speaker in a luncheon organized by the Bahraini-British Business Forum, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Alistair Long, British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Khalid Rashid Al-Zayani, Chairman of the Forum, and a number of officials.

The Minister noted that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been and continues to be a gateway for business in the region. Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 provides a clear path towards a diversified and sustainable economy, with a focus on innovation, investment and international partnerships. It continues to build on the pillars of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2050, which is formulated to reflect ambitions and aspirations, and will undoubtedly enhance the leading position of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and its progress in economic development and sustainability.

His Excellency also highlighted the Kingdom of Bahrain's orientation towards investing in technology, with the aim of achieving leadership in digital transformation, and noting the British experience in this field. Pointing to the steps taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to expand the available facilities and promote the provision of a business-friendly environment in order to attract more foreign investments, with the aim of consolidating the Kingdom of Bahrain's position as an attractive destination for international companies.