HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received this morning Dr. Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, Sunni Endowments Council's Chairman.

During the meeting, HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce, congratulated Dr. Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, on the New Hijri Year, and praised the constant support provided by the Sunni Endowments Council to the Endowment development projects, in order to maintain and develop its funds, and maintain and reconstruct places of worship.

During the meeting, areas of cooperation development between the Ministry and Sunni Endowments were reviewed, such as the provision of industrial zones and providing basic services to all industrial zone visitors and employees, including the construction of mosques and places of worship, in addition to discussing a number of issues of common concern.

On this note, The Minister pointed out the importance of providing basic services to industrial zones, praising the great role played by mutual visits between government officials to achieve required growth in these relations.   

As part of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's continued strategic development plans and efforts to improve its services to citizens and residents of Bahrain, Minister of Industry and Commerce H.E. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani opened the Consumer Protection Center at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the third customer service center in the Ministry, aiming to enhance government services provided by the Department of Consumer Protection to all categories of Bahraini society by smart and innovative technical standards that achieve customer satisfaction through facilitating business and easily benefitting from consumer protection management services.

H.E. the Minister of Industry and Commerce stressed the importance of establishing the center and noted that the Department of Consumer Protection seeks to achieve the strategic objectives set in its national executive plans and government work programs for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, aiming to improve consumer protection performance and services, and ensure that their efficient implementation with the highest standards, to activate cooperation and joint action between the ministry and traders within the active framework the government and the private sector, to achieve development aims.

H.E. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani also confirmed that the Consumer Protection Center works innovatively according to set plans and strategies to serve customers considering all scenarios. The center also offers services for people with special needs, as well the possibility of communication in several languages. To ensure providing smooth consumer protection services to the largest segment of citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain.​​

The Consumer Protection Centre for Customer Service provides multiple services, most importantly receiving automatic and traditional bakery's  subsidized flour  applications, promotion and discount licenses, as well as receiving and processing consumer complaints. In addition to a specialized office to provide introductory and educational services to consumer protection law No. 35 of 2012, as well as smart screens to provide high quality and professional electronic services.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, participated in a press conference on the sidelines of the higher committee meeting for the Integrative Industrial Partnership, being held in the Egyptian Capital, Cairo. Also participating in the conference were the representatives of the UAE, Egypt and Jordan.

During the conference, the Partnership higher Committee members highlighted the role the agreement will play in promoting the growth and integration of value chains and trade between their states. They affirmed their countries' commitment to adopting joint initiatives and projects, while facilitating joint investments in the industrial sector.

Minister Al Zayani highlighted the Government of Bahrain's objectives of cementing ties between the member states to further develop its industrial sector. He stated that the government has launched the Industrial Strategy (2022-2026), which aims to develop the sector through different initiatives, including establishing a new industrial zone, and seeking to attract foreign investment by encouraging industrial projects and partnerships.

The committee stated that it has received 81 project proposals, including 11 that have been referred to enter the feasibility studies phase, in the agricultural, food and fertilizers, and medicines fields, with initial investments amounting to $1.6 billion. The next phase of projects will focus on metal, chemical, plastic, textiles and clothing.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has joined the “Integrative Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development", launched by Egypt, Jordan and the UAE in late May.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani signed the industrial partnership agreement, on the sidelines of the first higher committee meeting of the integrated industrial partnership, being held in Cairo. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and the concerned representatives of the three participating countries.

 Minister Al Zayani affirmed that the industrial sector is an integral component of the Kingdom of Bahrain's comprehensive development efforts. He highlighted that this partnership will further strengthen the well-established relations between the participating countries, providing more investment opportunities and solidifying strategic collaboration among them.​

The Minister stressed that this partnership supports the objectives of the Industrial Sector Strategy "2022-2026" and will contribute to strengthening the economic position of the Kingdom of Bahrain, by supporting it in advancing a developed industrial sector that anchors on innovation and creativity.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, met with the British Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, during his official visit to the United Kingdom. The two sides discussed the ongoing negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC countries and the UK, and the economic benefits this agreement will bring about for both nations. ​

Minister Alzayani affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to working with the UK on advancing bilateral cooperation across all avenues of mutual benefit. He highlighted that the UK is a major global investment partner for the Kingdom, and the FTA will open new doors that will further cement this economic partnership between the two sides. 

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to further develop and increase the volume of bilateral investments during the next phase, highlighting the potential role the private sector can play in achieving this goal

H.E. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce participated in a seminar held at the headquarters of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce in London, in the presence of Baroness Elizabeth Symons, Chairman of Arab British Chamber of Commerce, and Bandar Reda, CEO & Secretary General of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce. Regarding the FTA between GCC countries and the UK.  With participation of a number of senior officials.

The seminar addressed important topics regarding recently launched FTA and its advantages to Arab and regional countries, as it will develop and increase investments and trade between the GCC and the UK. This will contribute to economic growth and prosperity in the UK and the Gulf region as well as ways to develop and increase diversified investments between them, in order to achieve common goals and visions.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce H.E. Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani received the Bahrain-Russian Friendship and Business Assosiation President Dr. George Zreikat, and Vice president Anatoly Mitroshin, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Russian Federation, H.E. Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Saati.

The Minister highlighted the efforts of the Bahrain-Russian Friendship and Business Assosiation in strengthening economic, cultural and social cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Russian Federation.

He stressed the major role such joint partnerships play in promoting economic exchange between countries.

The Minister noted the depth of mutual relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of developing these relations through mutual visits, joint activities and events.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, HE. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani affirmed the Ministry's commitment to continue collaborating with the Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) to enhance professionalism and the quality of performance across the Ministry.

During a meeting with BIPA's Director General H.E. Dr. Raed Mohammed Bin Shams, the Minister stressed on the importance of continuing to provide training opportunities on government innovation to public employees and strengthening their capabilities, to uphold the highest standards in public services and further encourage innovation within government work.

HE. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani highlighted that the positive cooperation with BIPA is a key factor to establishing the foundations of a nurturing and stimulating environment for the Ministry's employees, to keep pace with the ambitious aspirations for future economic development in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

For his part, BIPA's Director General, affirmed the importance of continuing cooperation aimed at raising institutional cadres and developing government outputs to meet the aspirations of citizens. ​

Dr. Bin Shams added that this cooperation includes the exchange of expertise, training and support to build competitiveness and innovation skills, participation in organizing and managing events and activities, monitoring and documenting experiences and writing practical research in the field of government innovation, as well as the provision of technological infrastructure.