The Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched its back-to-school awareness and inspection campaign for the commercial sector and consumers, citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the title "we’re here for back-to-school season”.

The campaign aims to create a consumer environment based on trust, transparency and sustainability and to enhance the principles of consumer protection in the local markets of the Kingdom of Bahrain and raise the level of public awareness of the rights and duties of the commercial sector and the consumer.

The Ministry highlighted the campaign’s goal to impose control over markets and shops to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and to ensure authenticity of promotions and discounts, and proper controls for price display, to enhance transparency and ease of the shopping process. The campaign also contributes to addressing any misleading commercial practices and commercial fraud, by intensifying inspection tours by the Ministry's Inspection Directorate on shops and markets concerned with everything related to the back-to-school season, to guarantee conformity and ensure the availability and variety of goods, indicating that in case any violations are detected, legal measures will be taken to ensure market safety and reliability.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce invites all consumers, citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to learn more about the awareness campaign " we’re here for back-to-school season " on the ministry’s official communication platforms, and follow the guidelines and directives on the correct practices of sustainable shopping in local markets.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce stressed the importance of the commercial sector’s commitment to the regulations and laws in force, and their cooperation with the inspection teams, to contribute to the success of this season.

H.E. Ms. Eman Ahmed Al Doseri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, meets with Elizabeth Hattingh, Acting Deputy Chief of US Mission to Bahrain, where they reviewed the positive developments of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Undersecretary stressed the importance of joint relations, especially in the field of trade, which continues to prosper through joint agreements and mutual visits, in addition to various cooperation and trade exchange programs. Highlighting the vital role that the private sector can play in both countries by benefiting from the advantages and benefits available through bilateral agreements, which reflect positively on increasing the volume of trade exchange.

The eCommerce Champions Program Orientation workshops, launched by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in cooperation with Export Bahrain and the Bahrain Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (BIBF), came to a conclusion. Attended by a number of companies and commercial institutions and with the participation of a group of mentoring companies, including Lalabella Events, The Gentleman Club Bahrain Garments, and Nafnoofi Online Trading. In addition to the participation of a number of e-commerce service providers, namely NBB, Aramex Bahrain, and Line Impact Bahrain Online Operation.

In this context, the Ministry stressed the fruitful cooperation by Export Bahrain and the (BIBF), and their efforts to lead mentoring companies in transferring their experiences to participating companies, positively contributing to the success of the second edition of the eCommerce Champions Program.

The Ministry elaborated that the companies and institutions qualified from this program will be selected based on the digital transformation plan that will be presented and will be awarded the title of eCommerce Champions Program.

The leading mentors touched on the importance of digital transformation for companies and commercial institutions, success stories, and how to achieve customer satisfaction through the online shopping experience, where a set of important axes related to e-marketing strategies were presented, and the importance of data analysis and how to create an effective online store that includes an e-payment service, and a clear presentation of policies and delivery services.

E-commerce support service providers also focused in their presentations on developing digital business management through digital marketing tools, search engine optimization, logistical and delivery advice, and how to employ digital commerce solutions and benefit from Export Bahrain services to enable companies to export outside the Kingdom of Bahrain through eCommerce.

The workshops focused on the experiences of leading mentors and e-commerce support service provider companies in overcoming challenges, achieving success and transferring experiences to participants.

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.