May 04, 2015
Manama, Economic Development Board, 4th May 2015: A delegation organised by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and led by Chief Executive of the EDB, Mr. Khalid Al-Rumaihi, has arrived in Munich, Germany. The high-profile delegation includes representatives from both the public and private sectors in Bahrain, including H.E. Hassan Al Majed, Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and representatives from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
The visit coincides with the prestigious Transport Logistic exhibition in Munich, and the programme includes meetings with H.E. Alexander Dobrindt, the German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and H.E. State-Secretary Pschierer of the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Media and Technology. During the visit, the EDB will also participate in the official opening ceremony of the Transport Logistic 2015 exhibition where a Bahrain Pavilion will showcase the Kingdom’s favourable business environment to German and international investors.
Mr. Al-Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the EDB said:
“During our visit to Germany this week, we are going to introduce a number of potential investors to the Kingdom’s key competitive advantages. In Bahrain, German companies will find a highly skilled national workforce, the most liberal economy in the MENA region, and excellent connectivity to its neighbours. Additionally, with the recent announcement of the introduction of US$22 billion worth of infrastructure projects, there are even more opportunities for companies looking to expand in the region.
“Germany is already one of our most important trading partners in the EU, and businesses from the country operate at the forefront of the modern industries that form a core of the continued economic expansion and diversification we are witnessing in Bahrain. Through continued investment, we can grow Bahrain’s economy further and provide quality jobs that will help raise the overall standard of living in the Kingdom.”
A large number of German businesses have already established operations in Bahrain as a means of accessing the wider GCC market, including BASF, RMA, SMS Meer, Allianze Global Investors, Hannover Re, Rheinmetall and Armacell. Leading German logistics companies with offices or facilities in Bahrain include: DHL, Schmidt Middle East logistics JLT and Talke Logistics.
The delegation’s visit represents the latest in a series of visits by Bahraini officials to Germany. In April, the EDB sponsored the 6th Ghorfa Education & Vocational Training Forum in Berlin, and a delegation led by Bahrain EDB and including officials from the National Institute for Industrial Training (NIIT) and Tamkeen, attended the event. During the visit several meetings were arranged for NIIT and Tamkeen with their German Counterparts to discuss possible future partnerships and training programs. In December, NIIT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Education Center of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles in Kassel, Germany, to promote cooperation in the fields of apprenticeship and training.
Bahrain recently announced an update to its visa policy whereby visitors from Germany can now be issued a multi-entry visa that is valid for three months. This visa allows a length stay of two weeks per visit. Additionally, business visitors are able to spend longer periods of time in the Kingdom, as the new policy dictates that business visas are issued with one-month validity and are multi-entry with two weeks of stay per visit.
