H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro Minister of Industry and Commerce headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the meeting of the Bahraini-US Joint Committee for the Free Trade Agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America, in the presence of Assistant United States Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle Mr. Bryant Trick to represent the American side, and with the participation of a number of senior officials from both countries in Washington, DC.
His Excellency praised the depth of the historical US-Bahraini relations, stressing the importance of the comprehensive joint agreement for security integration and prosperity, which was signed last September in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and His Highness Lieutenant General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Commander of the Royal Guard, and Antony J. Blinken, the US Secretary OF State. Noting that this comprehensive agreement embodies the strength of the strategic partnership between the two countries and the commitment to enhance joint cooperation in several fields, including emerging technology, trade and investment.
The Minister elaborated that the comprehensive agreement builds on the broad prospects for investment and economic cooperation of the US-Bahrain FTA, which was signed twenty years ago, and still represents the cornerstone for encouraging investments and bilateral trade and creating an appropriate climate for economic cooperation and new spaces for the trade, business, and investment sectors.
The Minister also stressed the Kingdom of Bahrain's constant keenness to continue building a sustainable economy on the basis of transparency, sustainability and competitiveness, and to push the role of the private sector in optimizing various investment opportunities and mutual experiences to open new markets and stimulate qualitative investments in various sectors to promote sustainable economic growth.
