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.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, stressed the importance of supporting diversity in the commercial sector, to create an encouraging and stimulating environment for the private sector to attract more regional and international commercial projects in light of the advantages the Kingdom of Bahrain offers to supports the commercial and investment sector.

This came during the official opening ceremony of the 128th branch of Nesto Hypermarkets in Isa Town in the presence of the Minister of Industry and commerce, and a number of officials and stakeholders. Where His Excellency was received by Nesto Group's Executive Director Arshad Hashim and the Group’s Executive Director Nader Bardestani.

His Excellency the Minister praised this new addition to the Nesto Hypermarket chain, which offers many products that meet the needs of consumers in the region, wishing the chain of markets and its employees success.

Dr. Khalid Fahad Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the Caucasus Investment Forum 2024, which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, with the participation of more than 3,000 participants from more than 30 countries.

In his speech, Al-Alawi affirmed that the participation of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the forum reflects the depth of the strong bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, pointing to the fruitful results of the recent visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the Russian Federation, and Bahrain’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Chechen Republic in various fields.

Moreover, Al-Alawi pointed to the importance of enhancing investments through economic cooperation in promising sectors, especially in the industrial sector, which greatly intersect with the industries targeted in the industrial sector strategy (2022-2026) for the Kingdom of Bahrain, which include pharmaceutical and food industries, semiconductors, renewable energy and manufacturing industries in aluminum and petrochemicals, in addition to exchanging experiences and knowledge to push the dissemination of research, development and industrial innovation, and leveraging technology to meet challenges and encourage innovation to develop advanced and sustainable solutions that increase productivity of industries.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received Luigi Di Maio, the Special Representative of the European Union (EU) for the Gulf region.

The meeting discussed steps to boost cooperation between the two sides in all fields, especially economy, and a number of topics of common interest. 

The Minister hailed the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union, and their mutual commitment to enhance areas of cooperation to meets the ambitions of both sides and supports common interests.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, met the Chairman of the of the Board of Directors of the Canada Arab Business Council (CABC), Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf, to discuss ways to enhance economic and commercial cooperation and investment partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Minister praised the role of the (CABC) in crystallizing common economic visions, and working to widen horizons in many fields, and highlighted the importance of the role of the private sector in consolidating joint relations and increasing the volume of commercial exchange, noting in this regard the facilities the Kingdom of Bahrain offers to attract international projects and benefit from these advantages.

For his part, Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf praised Bahrain’s remarkable progress at the economic and investment levels, noting the strategies and initiatives launched by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to attract international investments and pioneering projects to the Kingdom.

HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, met with Mr. Khalaf Hujair, President of the Bahraini Contractors Association, and some members of the association, to discuss topics and issues related to the contracting sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

His Excellency hailed the role of the Bahraini Contractors Association and its continued cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, affirming the Ministry’s support of all sectors affecting the economic development movement, and the commitment to facilitate the development of contracting institutions. 

For his part, the President of the Contractors Association expressed his appreciation for the great support received from the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the efforts to support the contracting sector to boost its growth and development.

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received a number of employees of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce who have recently obtained a master's degree.

His Excellency hailed their achievements and praised their competencies and continuous efforts in developing services provided by the Ministry, which reflects their dedication and high sense of national responsibility, noting the importance of employing these distinguished academic efforts in developing fields of government work, and wishing them continued progress and success.

The Joint Economic Committee between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its forty-fourth meeting at the Ministry's headquarters, chaired by HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and HE Mr. Sameer Nass, BCCI Chairman, in the presence of a number of officials and members of the Joint Economic Committee from both sides.

The Minister affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness to support the commercial and economic sectors in light of the comprehensive development process guided by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and followed-up by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

His Excellency highlighted the prominent role played by private sector in supporting the GDP, noting that the BCCI is a key partner in adopting projects and initiatives that reflect positively on supporting the national economy, and stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation to achieve common aspirations.

For his part, BCCI Chairman Sameer Nass pointed to the positive impact of these joint meetings on enhancing economic work, noting that the private sector is a key contributor to the kingdom’s economic growth, and stressing that the Chamber, as a representative of the private sector, will spare no effort in strengthening the national economy in light of global economic developments, finally expressing his appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts to support the private sector.