Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Head of the Delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE MR. Zayed R. Alzayani, participated in the coordination meeting of the Arabic group participating in the 12^th Ministerial Conference of the (WTO) with the participation Their Excellencies Ministers of Commerce of participating Arab countries, in the in the presence of Ambassador Dr. Yusuf AbdulKarim Bucheeri, Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to UN – Geneva and Sheikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade. In Geneva, Switzerland.

During the meeting, they discussed the latest updates regarding the topics of the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the (WTO) and discussed the highlights of the Arab Ministerial Statement held in October 2021, as well as various topics aimed at supporting efforts to strengthen the multilateral global trading system at all national, regional and international levels. 

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Head of the Delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE MR. Zayed R. Alzayani, participated in the preparatory meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Geneva for the Trade Cooperation Committee on the sidelines of the 12th Ministerial Conference of the (WTO) with the participation Their Excellencies Ministers of Commerce in GCC countries, and in the in the presence of Ambassador Dr. Yusuf AbdulKarim Bucheeri, Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to UN – Geneva, and Sheikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade.

During the meeting, a number of topics were discussed to prepare for the 12^th Ministerial Conference of (WTO) which is held in Geneva from June 12 to 15, where the meeting aims to draw up a unified position that serves the mutual interests of the gulf in the World Organization.

As part of the 12^th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Geneva, HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism participated with WTO Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and in the presence of H.E. Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the UN and other organizations in Geneva, and Sh. Hamad Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic & Foreign Trade, and his delegation, in the consultative meeting of the Arabic group of WTO, in preparation for the 12^th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization( WTO).

Whereas the Director General of the organization will discuss the expected outcomes of this conference with Their Excellencies the Ministers and Heads of delegations of the Arabic group participating in the Ministerial Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 12-15, 2022.  Where the Arabic group is seeking agreements on trade policies that will help economic recovery under the current circumstances. Considering the developmental needs of developing and less developed countries.

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority has announced the inclusion of the historic headquarters of Yusuf bin Ahmed Company in the Manama Souq as part of its plans to boost tourism to this historical site. This coincides with the Kanoo family's development work for this building, which is being transformed into a museum and exhibition for the firm and family history in the Manama Souq.

HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority signed an MOU with Mr. Khalid Mohammed Kanoo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Company, which involves the ongoing work on developing the company's building along with the development projects of the Manama Souq. The two sides also agreed to appoint representatives to discuss issues concerning the development of the company's building or any other development activity relating to the historic Manama Souq site.

HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani expressed his pleasure at this type of collaboration, which aims to shed light on one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the Arabian Gulf and the region, as well as to attract dedicated visitors and interested tourists who follows the history of commercial and economic activity.

“BTEA aims to include the historical Kanoo building in the Manama market among the Bahraini tourist destinations promoted locally, regionally, and globally. This is consistent with our strategic goals of emphasizing Bahrain's status as a global tourist destination and enhancing tourism's contribution to the national GDP." According to H.E. Minister Alzayani.

On his part, Mr. Khalid Mohammed Kanoo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Company, confirmed that this collaboration with BTEA provides significant momentum to the effort of developing the historic Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Company building in Manama Souq."We are glad that this building will be included in BTEA's plans to develop the Manama Souq in order to bolster its position within the market's urban and cultural heritage." According to Mr. Khalid Kanoo.

He explained that plans are ongoing to transform this building, which was completed in 1960 and has housed the Kanoo family's business offices for more than 60 years, into a museum that will display monuments from the Kanoo family's history of trade and entrepreneurship across three continents for more than 130 years. Adding that it will also showcase the Kanoo family's heritage and achievements in the commercial, economic, social, and cultural sectors during the last century.​

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani held a meeting with Mr. Marc Adler, Acting Secretary of Commerce of the State of Florida, and his delegation, as part of his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade Sh. Hamad bin Salman Al-Khalifa, and Assistant Undersecretary for Industry Development Dr. Khalid Fahad Al-Alawi, during which they reviewed bilateral relations between both countries.​
 

During the meeting, HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani stressed the extension and depth of bilateral relations in various fields between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America, specifically economic relations, which receive great attention from the leaderships of both countries, noting in context the constant cooperation between the economic sector stakeholders in both countries and the coordination and integration of rising growth between Bahraini investors and businessmen and their counterparts in the US, which has a great impact in strengthening bilateral relations in the economic sector of both countries. HE also noted that the United States Trade Zone that was launched during His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad AlKhalifa the Crown Prince & Prime Minister last visit to Washington DC as part of the Industrial Sector Strategy (2022-2026) as well as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came as an implementation of this aim and the continued quest to maximize its benefit for both sides.

Minister of Industry Commerce and Tourism, HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani receives HE MP Yousif Zainal, where they discussed a number of public affairs particularly economic affairs as well as reviewed aspect of cooperation and coordination between the Ministry and Parliament.

The minister confirmed Ministry's readiness to provide the support and assistance for the Parliament Council, noting in this regard Ministry's keenness to coordinate together with all stakeholders to achieve government strategies and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Chairman of the National Committee of the World Trade Organization (WTO), HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, chaired the 13^th meeting of the National Committee for the World Trade Organization in the presence of members and representatives of government agencies and private sector.

During the meeting, HE Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism welcomed the participating committee members, expressing his thanks for their efforts and their beneficial cooperation with MOIC in issues related to the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as congratulating them on winning the chairmanship of the Committee of Preventive Measures, subcommittee of the World Trade Council on trade in Goods, which oversees implementing the Convention on Preventive Measures and is responsible for monitoring the obligations of members under the agreement, through the appointment of Ms. Mariam Abdulaziz Al-Doseri the Commercial Attaché of MOIC, to the permanent mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain at the UN and other organizations in Geneva. 

A number of topics on the agenda were also discussed, including the Kingdom of Bahrain's notifications to the (WTO), overviewing the fourth review of the Kingdom of Bahrain's trade policies, overviewing the topics discussed in the 58^th WTO committee meeting in the GCC's General Secretariat. Moreover, a report was submitted on the latest developments of WTO, specifically ones related to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and a presentation was given regarding the preparations of the 12^th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, in addition to several topics on the agenda of the meeting.

To preserve Bahraini gold reputation and to consolidate the principle of sustainability in the development of Bahrain's gold and jewelry industry, MOIC is keen on providing secure market in the gold industry by imposing regulations and organizing awareness and regulatory campaigns.  

Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ashraf, Assistant Undersecretary for Control and Resources, stressed in a statement on MOIC's keenness to preserve the reputation and gains of Bahrain's gold trade in the local and Gulf market, given its unique designs and high quality that adapts to international gold standards. Elaborating that the Inspection Department poses control over gold and jewelry markets through systematic inspection campaigns or periodic inspections, to ensure their compliance to laws and decisions governing this activity. In this regard, a number of irregularities have been detected recently regarding offering unstamped precious metals items, therefore these items have been seized, all applicable legal procedures were taken and violators were referred to the Public Prosecution.

Mr. Al-Ashraf clarified that gold and jewelry control campaigns are constantly ongoing to ensure that gold and jewelry items are stamped with the Bahraini label, as precious metals may only be sold or displayed after being stamped according to the provisions of Decree No. 6 of 1990 with respect to control of precious metals. Moreover, the customer should be granted purchase invoice with basic data of the jewelry such as weight, caliber, price and thus. The assistant undersecretary also stated that the ministry warns the public not to deal with unlicensed gold shops carrying out business through social media, as the ministry is taking disciplinary measures in this regard in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) where specialists summon violators to follow procedures and refer them to the Public Prosecution.

In regard to the inspection campaign performed in a shopping center in the capital governorate, Mr. Al-Ashraf revealed that illegal acts had been detected related to selling unstamped precious metals, and that these items had been confiscated for legal proceedings. He added that the inspection department will continue its control campaigns on this sector to preserve Bahraini gold reputation and customer rights, especially with the recent prominent growth and increased demand the gold sector witnessed in the past two years and various means and techniques of selling and delivering it.  

In conclusion, the Assistant Undersecretary emphasized on the important role of consumers to ensure purchasing stamped gold goods that carry the Bahraini label and to request a purchase invoice to preserve their rights. Reminding them that the Ministry receives complaints and reports of violations and unauthorized practices in various sectors via contacting Inspection, or Consumer Protection Services, or through The National Suggestion & Complaint system “Tawasul".

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