The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani received MP Fadhel Al Sawwad at his office today.

In the meeting, several issues and topics related to public affairs were discussed, especially those concerning economic and developmental matters.

Additionally, the Minister and the Lawmaker reviewed the aspects of cooperation, coordination and joint action between the legislative and executive authorities.

In this context, Mr. Al Zayani expressed that the Ministry is always pleased to cooperate and work closely with the Council of Representatives and the other concerned parties in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Minister underlined the importance of coordination and joint work between the Ministry and all concerned parties to achieve the visions and strategies of the Respected Government, in a manner that supports public interest. ​

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed Rashid Al Zayani received Shura Council Member Sasdiq Al Rahma at his office today.

Several issues and topics of public interest were discussed between the Minister and Mr. Al Rahma, while mutual cooperation and coordination between the Ministry and Shura Council was also highlighted in the meeting.

The Minister praised the sincere efforts exerted by Shura Council members to support and reinforce the Government's efforts to achieve Bahrain's strategies and vision 2030, which are based on attaining the desired development, in light of the developmental process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, based on the three principles; "Sustainability, Competitiveness and Justice".

Mr. Al Zayani also reaffirmed the Ministry's readiness to always provide all aspects of the required support to Shura Council and to other concerned parties to enable them to fulfil their roles to the fullest. ​

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MoICT) recently referred a shop to the Public Prosecution for selling jewellery without obtaining a copy of the buyer's identity and failure to apply the Customer Due Diligence (CDD).

The Ministry also confirmed imposing administrative penalties against another shop, which sold jewellery worth more than BD3,000 in cash.

The owners of both Commercial  Registrations (CR) have been added to the reserved list for their violation of the requirements of order No. (173) of 2017 as amended by the Ministerial Order (108) of 2018 concerning the obligations related to the procedures of the Prohibition of and Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Finance.

Adenoidally, the Ministry said a number of compliance officials in the jewellery and auditing sectors, after it was proven that they have breached the obligations imposed on them in relation to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Ministry added that it is sparing no effort in taking any legal measures everything that may affect the national system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. ​

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed Rashid Al Zayani received MP Hamad Al Kooheji at his office recently.

The meeting discussed several issues and topics of public interest, as well as matters related to the economy and development, in addition to reviewing the means of mutual cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive authorities.

In this regard, the Minister underlined the importance of coordination and joint work between the Ministry and all concerned parties to achieve the visions and strategies of the Respected Government, in a manner that supports public interest.​

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani received at his office today the former British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Mr. Iain Lindsay.

During the meeting, the Minister congratulated Mr. Lindsay on the occasion of his recent appointment as an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Mr. Al Zayani praised the key and effective role played by EDB in developing the national economy and promoting the attractive investment atmosphere that distinguishes the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Minister stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation and coordination between the Ministry and EDB, which aims to achieve sustainable development, activate plans and programmes to introduce the investment opportunities available in Bahrain.

Additionally, the meeting discussed EDB's role in promoting the procedures and facilitations granted by the Ministry to investors and businessmen, in order to achieve Bahrain's 2030 Economic Vision, based on the three principles of "Sustainability, Competitiveness and Justice". ​

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism (MOICT) has urged restaurants, cafes, shisha cafes and other food and beverage establishments to uphold COVID-19 mitigation rules to reduce the spread of the virus, particularly during the upcoming 3 weeks during which time indoor dining will be barred. The prohibition on indoor dining begins on January 31, 2021.

The Ministry reiterated that food service facilities are required to observe seating capacity restrictions and social distancing requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Health.

Under current restrictions, reservations in outdoor areas are limited to 30 people per individual booking; occupancy at tables is limited to 50% of their capacity; a maximum of 6 persons may be seated at a table; and tables must be at least 2 meters apart.

The Ministry noted that noncompliance is an act of wrongdoing that undercuts preventative efforts, and may result in legal action against violators consistent with Public Health Law. Adherence to these measures is particularly important considering the recent increase in reported cases as well as the emergence of a new variant.

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani issued Resolution No. (12) for the year (2020), with regards to the regulation of Retail Sale via Internet​ through a virtual shop, under which the commercial activity "Retail Sale via Internet" is listed within the available options under the Virtual Commercial Registration (VCR) "Sijili".

The Resolution comes within HE the Minister's continuous endeavours to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Bahraini startups, in addition to activating e-commerce practicing in preparation for its digital transformation.

This initiative is one of the initiatives of the national e-commerce strategy aimed at facilitating and organising procedures related to practicing e-commerce in a legal, licensed and flexible manner. This initiative also allows businessowners on social media networks to register their businesses without requiring the existence of an actual commercial store, in order to ensure the commercial rights of all parties, and in implementation of the aspirations of account owners on social media networks to officially register these accounts as commercial activities licensed by the Ministry for online trade, with the purpose of preserving the success and reputation they have earned, and to add the confidence of business dealings to it.

Additionally, this initiative is expected to contribute to the efforts exerted to curb suspicious commercial products that may deceive the consumer by selling products or providing services that do not comply with what the online store offers and other problems that the consumer may face during the process of buying electronically. 

The initiative would also contribute to boosting the consumer's confidence and provides the best and safest option for dealing with licensed online stores in order to preserve their rights during the electronic purchase process, in addition to enabling the online stores to achieve more legal and local expansion. This also enables them to join "mall.bh"; an initiative launched by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in April, 2020.

The registration conditions for practicing "Retail Sale via Internet" are identical to the conditions for practicing virtual commercial activities "Sijili", with the requirement to provide an existing website for the virtual store and to commit to buying products for sale from the local market only.

It is also important to provide a secure electronic payment method and an active shopping cart, while the online store must clearly display the return and exchange policy, the use policy and the user data protection policy, in addition to providing online product selection and payment methods, and the products purchased can either be downloaded directly or physically delivered to customers.

All those who meet the conditions and wishing to practice this activity can follow the required steps through the website www.sijilat.bh . For more information and inquiries, you can contact info@mall.bh  or call 17359008.​

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism HE Zayed Rashid Al Zayani recently held a virtual meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s delegation, led by Mr. Ali Al Eid, and in the presence of a number of ministry officials.

During the meeting, the Minister stressed the importance of such meetings, which come within the periodic meetings of the concerned parties in the Kingdom and the IMF, with the aim of discussing and reviewing the economic developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Moreover, Mr. Al Zayani pointed out that Bahrain is taking steady strides towards achieving its desired development goals through multiple dynamic initiatives, which played a major role in continuing the positive growth of Bahrain's economy.

Additionally, the meeting discussed several topics and included an exchange of insights and views on the latest economic developments on the local and international levels, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.​