Bahrain and Tunisia establish a joint business council to support trade and investment exchange

Heba Mohsen

The Tunisian Embassy in the Kingdom of Bahrain witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Bahraini Businessmen Association and the Confederation of Tunisian Citizenship Institutions (Connect), aiming to establish a joint Tunisian-Bahraini business council, in a strategic step to strengthen economic, trade and investment relations between the two brotherly countries.

The Bahrain Businessmen Association was represented at the signing by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ahmed bin Hindi, while the Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises was represented by a member of the National Executive Office and former President of Connect International, Fouad Qadish, in the presence of the Chargé d’Affairs of the Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sami Al-Sayeh, and a number of members of the Association and investors in the Republic of Tunisia.

The agreement includes the establishment of a joint Bahraini-Tunisian business council, which holds its meetings periodically once a year, with alternating hosting between the two countries, which contributes to strengthening institutional communication between businessmen and supports building sustainable economic partnerships.

The two parties stressed that the agreement also includes enhancing the exchange of expertise and experiences, and implementing training and qualification programs, which contribute to developing human competencies and building institutional capabilities, in accordance with the laws and legislation in force in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Tunisia.

Ahmed Bin Hindi confirmed that the association is working in cooperation with the Tunisian side to encourage businessmen and merchants in the two countries to hold direct meetings, whether in Bahrain or Tunisia, in addition to preparing to equip Bahraini delegations interested in working with the Tunisian market, and receiving Tunisian delegations during the next stage, with a focus on the agreed-upon sectors and later expansion into other areas.

Regarding air transport, he indicated that there are ongoing talks with the relevant authorities, explaining that there are discussions with Gulf Air to discuss the possibility of opening a direct flight line between Bahrain and Tunisia.

He added: “The signing of the agreement reflects the Bahraini Businessmen Association’s keenness to enhance economic cooperation with the Republic of Tunisia, noting that the establishment of the joint business council will represent an effective platform to expand areas of cooperation, open new markets to the private sector, and support joint investment initiatives.”

He stressed that this agreement represents an essential factor for increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, expressing optimism that tangible results will be achieved in the next stage, in a way that enhances economic cooperation and raises it to the level of fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Tunisia.

Sami Al-Sayeh said that this initiative came at the suggestion of the Tunisian embassy, based on the keenness to develop economic cooperation and bind the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples. He explained that the agreement was welcomed and fully responded by the Tunisian and Bahraini sides, stressing that the most prominent provisions of the agreement are the establishment of a joint business council that will hold its meetings alternately between the two countries, with the organization of annual delegations of businessmen, thus laying the foundation for actual economic cooperation that keeps pace with the level of distinguished fraternal relations between Tunisia. And Bahrain.

Al-Sayeh explained that the food industry represents one of the most important possible axes of cooperation, as the value of Tunisian food exports is estimated at about $3 billion annually, directed to more than 120 markets around the world, which reflects the ability of this sector to meet the requirements of international markets, including the markets of the Gulf countries.

He pointed out that this visit comes within the framework of enhancing direct communication between economic actors and exploring new cooperation opportunities in sectors of common interest.

He said that Tunisian institutions working in the field of food industries are keen to provide high-quality products, with a clear identity, and respecting international standards, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into Gulf markets, through flexible cooperation models based on partnership, joint investment, and developing sustainable distribution channels.

Kadish explained that the Connect organization is a customs union with an international dimension, working to develop economic, trade and investment relations with various countries, noting that this partnership comes in light of global geopolitical changes, which require building strategic partnerships between continents, especially between Africa and Asia.

He added that the volume of trade exchange between Tunisia and Bahrain in 2025 and previous years ranged between 50 and 70 million dollars, which is a good number, but it does not reflect the real potential of the two countries, stressing that there are great opportunities to double it by addressing logistical challenges, facilitating procedures, and improving technical standards and specifications.

He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain was chosen due to its economic and political stability and attractive business environment, in addition to the friendly relations that bring together the two peoples, considering Bahrain an important gateway to enter the Gulf market.

He pointed out that the cooperation will focus in its first phase on the food industry sectors, especially olive oil, in addition to the textile sector, tourism, and especially medical tourism, due to Tunisia’s high competencies and expertise.

Secretary of the Bahraini Businessmen Association, Nabil Ajoor, said that the association is looking forward to organizing an industrial exhibition in the Republic of Tunisia in cooperation with the Bahraini side.

Hassan Salman, a fish investor in Tunisia, said: “We started investing in 2019, and thank God, things went better than we expected. “Tunisia has skilled, intelligent workers at reasonable prices, and it also has many opportunities in the fields of agriculture and fishing.”