H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed the United Kingdom's role as a major global investment partner, noting the steady growth of economic relations between Bahrain and the UK, which reflects their distinguished historical relations.

This came as H.E. the Minister welcomed Mr. Tom Wintle, UK Chief Negotiator for the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in his office this morning, in the presence of Mr. Alistair Walker, Head of International Engagement, UK-GCC FTA, and UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Roderick Drummond, where they discussed a number of topics of common interest.

The Minister expressed the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance economic cooperation with the UK in all fields, pointing to the role that the private sector can play in both countries and benefit from the advantages of the FTA, which contributes to achieving common goals and raising rates of trade and investment exchange between the two sides.