The start of the Bahrain -Emirati Business Forum in Manama

2025/06/12 4:20:23 PM

3 minutes read

Manama on June 12 / WAM / The work of the Bahraini -Emirati Business Forum was launched today in Manama, with the participation of senior officials from the two countries, as well as a group of representatives of major Emirati and Bahraini companies leading in sectors of common concern.
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al -Zyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, chaired a high -level Emirati delegation to participate in the forum’s work.
His Excellency Dr. Thani Al -Zyoudi stressed during his main speech that the meeting of the Bahraini -Emirati Business Forum comes at a time when brotherly relations between the two brotherly countries are witnessing qualitative developments in its prosperous path to the level of established strategic and sustainable partnership at various levels and in all fields, and in the heart, including economic, commercial and investment relations.
He said that these positive developments in the strategic partnership between the two countries derives its momentum from the forward -looking vision and the joint will of the two countries’ leaders to continue to raise these relations to new levels that achieve the joint development aspirations of the two brotherly peoples, as well as from mutual visits and brotherly meetings between His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State “may God protect him”, and His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa The sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain.
He pointed out that the non -oil -oil trade witnessed 23% growth in 2024 to 33.9 billion dirhams, to continue the joint trade prosperity between the two countries over decades, as non -oil -oil trade recorded 11% annual growth rate between 2015 and 2024, which is the fastest rate among the trade partners of the UAE in the Gulf.
He added that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as the second largest commercial partner for Bahrain with a share of 10.4% of the Kingdom’s total trade with the world, and the UAE is the third largest investor in Bahrain globally, with a share of 10% of the cumulative balances of direct investments in the Kingdom.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Trade, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, affirmed that the Bahraini -Emirati Business Forum represents a new station in the course of the established partnership between the two countries and confirms the mutual keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation in various economic sectors.
His Excellency explained that the forum embodies the joint conviction that economic integration is not achieved only through the exchange of goods and investments, but also by activating the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries, pointing to the recent memorandum of understanding on integration in the national added value programs “ICV”, which allows the products manufactured in any of the two countries to be treated as national products in the other country.

His Excellency announced the inauguration of the Emirati investor center at the headquarters of the Bahraini Ministry of Industry and Trade, in implementation of the memorandum of understanding concluded between the two sides.

The work of the forum included discussion sessions and presentations, with the participation of a group of senior officials and business leaders from both sides, in addition to bilateral meetings between business leaders and representatives of major Emirati and Bahraini companies.

In a related context, His Excellency Dr. Thani Al -Zyoudi and the accompanying delegation visited the headquarters of the UAE Investor Center, which was opened recently and reviewed His Excellency the services provided by the center to investors, which is to establish companies, add partners, provide information about investment activities, and meet all the needs of Emirati investors.
For his part, Faisal Ahmed Saleh, Assistant Undersecretary for the Commercial Register and Companies in the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Bahrain, said that the UAE investor center constitutes an important window to serve Emirati investors, who number in the Kingdom of Bahrain to more than 1500 Emirati investors working in various sectors and fields.
The Emirati delegation participating in the forum included His Excellency Fahd Muhammad Salem bin Kardous Al -Amiri, the country’s ambassador to Bahrain, His Excellency Juma Muhammad Al -Kit, Assistant Undersecretary for the Foreign Trade Affairs Sector in the Ministry of Economy, His Excellency Marwan Abdullah Al -Zaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for the District Sector in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and Captain Mohammed Jumaa Al Shamsi, Managing Director and CEO of the Abu Dhabi Ports Group and His Excellency Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, First Chamber Abu Dhabi Trade and Industry, in addition to a number of chief executives of free zones in the country, a group of senior government officials from the ministries and relevant departments, business leaders and representatives of major Emirati companies in various sectors.