The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani hosted a group of small and medium enterprises owners in the  1st SMEs periodic meeting with to discuss the most important relevant topics. The meeting was held at Ministry’s premises at Bahrain Harbour Gate.

During the meeting, a number of issues and problems were raised by the owners of SMEs, expressing their appreciation for the initiative of the Minister, which may be excellent in communicating with the concerned to highlight obstacles and updates.

Their problems were varies between procedures of the competent authorities that impede their work and cause the failure of their institutions, in addition to the labor permits, and the need to find a clear mechanism to coordinate between all government agencies to ensure the smooth work of small and medium enterprises. As well as loans, fear of bankruptcy and other problems related to this sector.

For his part, the Minister welcomed all the views, observations and complaints and promised that the ministry will work with the concerned authorities to solve them. He stressed that Ministry’s doors are open to all, in addition to other means of communication that the Ministry follow up and respond to them as quickly as possible. The minister stressed the seriousness of the government headed by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister in developing SMEs sector as it considered the main pillar of the national economy.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and under the directives of HRH the Crown Prince, in cooperation and coordination with other concerned bodies such as EDB, Tamkeen, BDB, BCCI has undertaken many initiatives and steps that some have been completed and some are still in progress. These include the launch of SMEs Development Board and adopting a strategy for this board. And develop three key indicators to measure the growth of the sector; increase Bahraini labor, Increase the share of SMEs in exports and increase their contribution to GDP. Among the initiatives that have been accomplished are business incubators and accelerators, allocate 20% of the value of government procurements to SMEs. It is hoped that the Export Development Center will be launched later this year, and develop special database for SMEs and bankruptcy law.

The Minister stressed that Ministry’s doors are open the public and business owners to achieve the public interest of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It should be noted that holding a periodic meeting with SMEs would allow to hear views and identify challenges facing their business. The ministry is keen to involve the private sector in its future vision and initiatives.

The minister of Industry, Commerce & Tourism Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani received UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Shaikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The meeting was attended by Undersecretary of Commerce Affairs Mr. Nader Al Moayyed, Undersecretary of Industry Affairs Mr. Osama Mohammed Al Orrayedh and BETA CEO Shaikh Khalid bin Hamood Al Khalifa.
During the meeting, the minister reviewed the historic relations between the two countries and the efforts of the leadership and the governments of the two countries to enhance and develop cooperation in all fields especially in the economic aspect. 

​Under the patronage of Assistant Undersecretary of Domestic Trade Mr. Hameed Rahma, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in collaboration with the GCC Standardization Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organized a workshop on “Constraints Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Applying the Standards.” The workshop was held at BCCI.

Assistant Undersecretary of Domestic Trade Mr. Hameed Rahma stressed the importance of developing SMEs sectors because it plays a strategic vital role in economic and social development of the country. He also pointed out that this sector represents large percentage of institutions operating in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the ministry is continuously supporting SMEs to enable them to grow, to be able to meet challenges and achieve sustainability and competitive together.

UNIDO expert Eng. Osama Abdulhamid presented the workshop indicating the importance of standards in their applying mechanisms as well as their role in enhancing business and trade, increasing productivity and ways to improve the competitiveness of SMEs.  He added that the main objective of the workshop is to present the draft study carried out by GCC Standardization Organization, which will identify the most important constraints facing SMEs, government bodies and companies in applying the standards. 

The workshop came out with many recommendations to improve the reality of this sector applying standards in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Under the patronage of Assistant Undersecretary of Domestic Trade Mr. Hameed Rahma, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in collaboration with the GCC Standardization Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organized a workshop on “Constraints Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Applying the Standards.” The workshop was held at BCCI.

Assistant Undersecretary of Domestic Trade Mr. Hameed Rahma stressed the importance of developing SMEs sectors because it plays a strategic vital role in economic and social development of the country. He also pointed out that this sector represents large percentage of institutions operating in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the ministry is continuously supporting SMEs to enable them to grow, to be able to meet challenges and achieve sustainability and competitive together.

UNIDO expert Eng. Osama Abdulhamid presented the workshop indicating the importance of standards in their applying mechanisms as well as their role in enhancing business and trade, increasing productivity and ways to improve the competitiveness of SMEs.  He added that the main objective of the workshop is to present the draft study carried out by GCC Standardization Organization, which will identify the most important constraints facing SMEs, government bodies and companies in applying the standards. 

The workshop came out with many recommendations to improve the reality of this sector applying standards in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Minister of Industry, Commerce & Tourism Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani confirmed government’s support for all economic sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain, especially the small and medium enterprises sector, which is witnessing a remarkable growth in its contribution to GDP.

This came during the meeting with the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Bahrain SMEs Development Society Mr. Ahmed Sabah Alsalloum.

During the meeting, they discussed many issues related to the SMEs sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the efforts undertaken by the government and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to enhance this sector. In addition to the efforts and facilities provided by the Ministry for incubators and accelerators which play a significant role in supporting small businesses.

The Bahraini-Russian Working Group on cooperation in the field of aluminum industry held its fifth meeting. The Bahraini Delegation was headed by Undersecretary of Industrial Affairs Mr. Osama Alorrayedh and the Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey Tsyb.

During the meeting, which was attended by the members of the working team from both sides, they discussed many topics and developments of the working team tasks and discussed the prospects of joint cooperation in the aluminum industry. The two sides stressed the importance of enhancing coordination in the field of marketing, information exchange and logistics coordination through the participation of Bahraini enterprises companies in the industrial and technology on the Russian land. They also highlighted the investment opportunities in the aluminum sector in both countries and agreed on joint cooperation in research development of new products, as well as exchange experiences and training in the aluminum industry and the global aluminum market.

This cooperation opens new horizons of coordination and joint action in other fields and enhance joint relations between the two countries.

A protocol of cooperation in the aluminum industry was signed between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Russian

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani chairs the meeting of the 22nd meeting of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministerial Tourism Council in Cairo.

The agenda focuses on enhancing, coordinating and consultation among Arab countries in the tourism sector. As well as a memorandum on the joint meeting of tourism ministers in the Arab countries, a study in establishing of an Arab Chinese Center for Tourism and Hotel Training in the Republic of Tunisia,  memorandum on the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism Award in excellence and innovation provided by the Egypt Ministry of Tourism, Tourism quality standards in tourism information and travel agencies and the role of the Arab Civil Aviation Authority in supporting Arab tourism, Arab tourism strategy and the role of tourism media.

The Directorate of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism seized more than 2,600 illegal games. The inspection was made to 120 shops in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Director of Standardization & Metrology Mrs. Mona Alalawi indicated that during the last two months of April and May the directorate conducted an inspection campaign to targeted products including slime and battery operated toys without a proper lid as those toys contains harmful chemicals to children.

The Directorate of Standards and Metrology calls all traders to ensure importing safe toys that comply with Gulf technical regulations on children toys. The role of parents is important in selecting safe toys, taking into account the instructions and warnings shown on the products and the games should be selected according to the age of the child or used under their supervision.