The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, announced the launch of the pioneering national initiative “Consumer Protection Ambassadors.” targeting ambitious Bahraini youth aged 24 to 30, encouraging them to actively participate in supporting community awareness efforts in the field of consumer rights protection. The program will run from July to August 2025 for two months.

In this regard, H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed that the initiative stems from the Ministry’s belief in the importance of involving youth in building the future. It also aims to enable participants to gain practical and field skills in consumer protection by engaging in workshops and awareness campaigns in cooperation with the specialized teams in the Ministry’s Consumer Protection Directorate.

H.E. the Minister further emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to provide a comprehensive training environment that includes theoretical training programs on fundamental consumer protection concepts and relevant regulations and laws, as well as practical training through real participation in receiving consumer complaints and ensuring effective communication with consumers. He confirmed that what distinguishes this pioneering national youth program—first of its kind in the Gulf and Arab region—is the awarding of the title “Consumer Protection Ambassador” to participants who successfully complete the program, along with experience certificates in the field of consumer protection and training opportunities, in addition to incentive financial rewards for outstanding participants provided by the official entities sponsoring the initiative.

For her part, H.E. Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, affirmed that this national youth initiative in the field of consumer protection represents an advanced model of integration between the Kingdom’s institutions in building an aware and qualified generation of youth. She praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in launching this exceptional program, which is considered the first of its kind in the Gulf region and the Arab world.

H.E. the Minister of Youth Affairs affirmed that this initiative contributes to empowering youth to play a pivotal role in promoting a culture of conscious and responsible consumption, in line with the goals of the National Youth Empowerment Strategy.

She pointed out that what distinguishes this initiative is its combination of theoretical and practical training. She stressed that awarding the title “Consumer Protection Ambassador” forms an important moral and professional incentive that instills discipline among youth and enhances their appreciation of their roles in building society.

She also affirmed that the Ministry of Youth Affairs is keen to support national initiatives that reflect a spirit of innovation in preparing and qualifying youth, expressing her confidence in the ability of Bahraini youth to excel in all fields.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, emphasized the strong friendship and strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States, especially in trade and economic fields. He praised both countries’ commitment to boosting cooperation to serve mutual interests and support sustainable development.

This came during his meeting with His Excellency Mr. Steven Craig Bondy, U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain, where they discussed topics of mutual interest.

The Minister also highlighted Bahrain’s dedication to strengthening ties with the U.S. and other countries through bilateral agreements and treaties, stressing the key role of the private sector in both nations in making the most of these opportunities and expanding cooperation across various sectors.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to encouraging innovative ideas that enhance service quality. 

This came during a ceremony honoring the winners of the Factory of Ideas 2024 initiative, held in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ms. Eman Ahmed Al-Doseri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Chairperson of the Judging Committee, along with a number of officials.

The Minister congratulated the winners, praised their creative contributions, and urged employees to continue striving for excellence and to participate in future editions of the initiative.

The ceremony highlighted the initiative’s focus on developing the work environment, policies and procedures, and customer experience. Awards were presented to the top three winners in each category.

In the workplace environment development category, first place went to employee Nada Nasser Al-Thawadi, second place to employee Khawla Yousif Abdulrahman, and third place to employee Maitham Fadhel Al-Hammad.

In the policy and procedure development category, first place went to employee Ali Ibrahim Al-Nasser, second place to employee Ali Jafar Jassim, and third place to a joint idea by employee Hamad Adel Bofarsan and employee Shaikha Khalid Al-Buainain.

In the customer experience development category, first place went to employee Sayed Hashim Shubbar Al-Wedaei, second place to employee Nouf Ahmed Al-Rifai, and third place to employee Mohammed Ibrahim Ashour.

His Excellency Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce,, welcomed UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, during his official visit to Bahrain.

Both sides highlighted the strong historical ties between Bahrain and the UAE, and emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation—especially in trade and economic development—for the benefit of both nations.

The ministers visited the newly established UAE Investor Center in Bahrain, which reflects growing Emirati investment and deepening economic ties. His Excellency Fakhro stressed the center’s role in advancing cross-border trade and investment.

They also took part in a workshop on the UAE’s experience with Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA), attended by officials from both countries.
 

His Excellency Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to boosting economic and investment cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman. This effort aims to build on existing strategic partnerships and open new opportunities aligned with the visions of the two countries’ leadership.
During his official visit to Oman, HE Minister Fakhro met with Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, HE Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and economic diversification efforts.
The visit also included meetings with HE Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Omani Minister of Finance, and other key officials and business leaders. Opportunities for cooperation in priority sectors and between private sector stakeholders were highlighted, along with discussions on high-value investments.
His Excellency Minister of Industry and Commerce witnessed the signing of an MoU between Export Bahrain and Oman’s SME Development Authority, in an aim to boost bilateral cooperation in SME and entrepreneurship development, support strategic goals in industrial growth, and help SMEs expand into regional and global markets, enhancing their contribution to GDP.
HE Fakhro concluded his visit by touring the “Invest in Oman” platform and the Youth Center, where he met with Omani entrepreneurs and emphasized the importance of empowering youth to drive economic growth.
 

His Excellency Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, chaired the 24th meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development Council at the Ministry’s headquarters, with the participation of member representatives.

The Minister emphasized the vital role of SMEs in the national economy and highlighted the importance of adopting innovative policies to boost the sector’s resilience and competitiveness.

The meeting reviewed the SME development strategy, its key objectives, implementation stages, and main challenges. It also discussed creating an effective regulatory framework and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable growth and innovation, increasing the sector’s contribution to the GDP.
 

Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, met with Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, H.E. Mr. Maxim Reshetnikov, during his official visit to Bahrain.

The two sides discussed strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing economic cooperation. Minister Fakhro highlighted Bahrain’s position as an attractive global investment hub, supported by a business-friendly environment and government incentives.

They also reviewed Bahrain’s upcoming participation as Guest of Honor at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this June.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has called on Bahraini manufacturers to register on the Arab Platform for Industrial and Mining Products Requests and Offers (APIP.online), which was launched as an initiative by the Arab Organization for Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining. The platform aims to connect Arab manufacturers with available opportunities in Arab markets, contributing to strengthening economic integration and increasing the volume of trade exchange, as part of enhancing industrial and mining cooperation among Arab countries.

In this regard, Dr. Khaled Fahad Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, affirmed that this platform represents an exceptional opportunity for Bahraini manufacturers to showcase their products at the Arab level and to become familiar with the needs of regional markets in the industrial and mining sectors. This enables them to take advantage of available opportunities and strengthen their presence in Arab markets.

Al Alawi pointed out that this step aligns with the Industrial Sector Strategy (2022–2026), which focuses on supporting nationally originated exports and opening doors for Bahraini manufacturers to expand regionally and compete in procurement agreements.

He added that through this platform, the Ministry seeks to continue promoting regional cooperation and achieving integration among Arab industrial sectors, praising Bahrain’s manufacturing capabilities, which possess the potential and expertise to compete both regionally and internationally.

It is worth noting that the Arab Platform for Industrial and Mining Products Requests and Offers currently includes data on more than 60,000 industrial and mining establishments and over 900 investment opportunities from 21 Arab countries, providing a comprehensive database of industrial and mining products and needs across the region.