Manama, Bahrain – 21 October 2023. A high-level Bahrain delegation led by H.E. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and the acting Minister of Tourism, is headed on an official visit to China scheduled from October 21 to October 27.
Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) with the support of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), the visit is designed to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries, as well as promote high-impact investment opportunities in Bahrain.
With a focus on attracting leading investment projects across priority sectors, the visit will bring together over 20 senior representatives from Bahrain’s public and private sectors. In addition to key officials from the MOIC and senior executives from Bahrain EDB, including its Chief Executive, H.E. Khalid Humaidan, and the delegation will be supported by representatives from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by its Second Vice Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Abduljabbar AlKooheji.
Encompassing three cities with a set agenda of strategic investor and government meetings alongside key networking events, the trip will commence in Guangzhou, set to include a visit to the Canton Fair, the largest trading event in China, and additionally feature China-GCC Trade Forum which will be hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce. The delegation will continue to Shenzhen, then to China’s capital, Beijing, which will feature a business forum along with business to business meetings hosted by Bahrain EDB in collaboration with China Overseas Development Association (CODA).
H.E Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro, the Minister of Industry and Commerce and acting Minister of Tourism, said, “Owing to its strategic location in the heart of the Gulf, progressive government and foreign ownership policies, Bahrain provides an ideal destination for Chinese manufacturers and enterprises expanding globally. With a strong interest in international investment demonstrated, and a healthy pipeline of leading projects from China, we look forward to promoting new commercial opportunities across focused sectors, further building upon strong economic and trade ties, and forming new strategic partnerships for the mutual benefit of both countries.”
China remains one of Bahrain’s top five largest trading partners wherein as of 2022, the volume of non-oil bilateral trade between both nations reached approximately USD 2.4 billion. Beyond heavily contributing to the completion of large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, various China-based companies benefit from established operations in Bahrain which provides strategic access to the wider Gulf market. Huawei, which set up its Middle East and Central Asia headquarters in Bahrain in 2009, formed an instrumental role in Bahrain’s early adoption of nationwide 5G, and in furthering the national digital agenda.
