October 01, 2014
Officials from the Economic Development Board (EDB) visited the People’s Republic of China in preparation for a Bahraini roadshow to be conducted by a high-level delegation later this year. The roadshow will cover Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
In cooperation with the Bahrain Embassy in China and with the attendance of the Bahrain Ambassador HE Dr Anwar Al Abdullah, the EDB officials attended various Chinese economic and trade events to learn about the Chinese economy. EDB officials Ms. Vivian Jamal, Executive Director of Business Development at the EDB, and Mr. Yousef Al Khan, Manager of International Relations, have held meetings with representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Beijing. The meetings discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between both sides and to support Chinese investors in the Kingdom as well as seek future collaboration between the two countries.
The Bahraini delegation also attended a dinner along with Dr Al Abdulla, and top officials of leading Chinese companies that have offices in Bahrain including ChinaMex and Huawei.
The EDB delegation visited the Guangzhou Province and held meetings with various Chinese entities including the Commerce Bureau of Guangdong Province Government and GFIC. The meetings aimed to discuss means of investment cooperation between Bahrain and Guangzhou province, as well as plans for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the union to promote the Kingdom to Chinese companies in the province. The delegation learned about Guangzhou’s technical and economic story before heading to Shenzhen for meetings with its government representatives, to discuss cooperation and potential agreement.
The trip concluded in Hong Kong, where the Bahraini delegation met with leading business and trade entities including Hong Kong Federation of Insurers and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
The official roadshow that is planned before year-end follows the visit by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the People’s Republic of China in September last year, and the two nations celebrating 25 years of bilateral relations earlier this year. The visit also comes in line with its goals to strengthen mutual relations between the two countries.
The EDB established an international office in the People’s Republic of China in 2013, based on its strategy to attract foreign investment to Bahrain and to focus on targeted economic sectors which provide a competitive advantage to the Kingdom. The office is located at the Bahrain Embassy’s headquarters in China where it handles the EDB affairs in Hong Kong under the management of Mr. Yun Jiang.
