Kano: A strategic alliance to strengthen the unity of the commercial street and draw a road map for the future economy

Merchants, members of the “Sustainability” bloc, officially submitted their nomination papers for the elections of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its thirty-first session, today, Saturday, at the Chamber’s headquarters in Sanabis.

In addition to the head of the bloc, Mr. Nabil Khaled Kanoo, “Sustainability” includes merchants Muhammad Al-Kooheji, Nawaf Al-Zayani, Yousef Salah Al-Din, Sonia Janahi, Sawsan Abu Al-Hassan, Abeer Al-Moayyed, Ahmed Al-Saloum, Jamil Al-Ghanah, Professor Dr. Waheeb Al-Khaja, Abdul-Wahab Al-Hawaj, Muhammad Adel Fakhro, Shaker Al-Hilli, Rashad Zainal, Muhammad Nader Diwani, and Hassan Badr. Kixo, Khaled Abdul Rahman Jumaa, and Khaled Anger.

With these names, the bloc includes a mixture of leadership experiences, professional competencies, and ambitious young energies, which have come together under one umbrella aiming to achieve stability and sustainable growth for the Bahraini business sector.

## “Sustainability” One voice, one home

On this occasion, Mr. Nabil Khalid Kanoo made a press statement in which he stressed that today’s official nomination represents a “responsibility and commitment” to the merchants and members of the General Assembly of the Bahrain Chamber, and he said:

“We in the Sustainability Bloc realize that the current stage carries a number of challenges for the commercial sector, especially in light of the regional conditions and economic changes taking place in the region, which requires more joint work and effective coordination between the Bahrain Chamber and the esteemed government to ensure the continued growth and stability of the commercial sector.

We would also like to praise the efforts and initiatives taken by the government to support various economic sectors, especially the commercial sector, which played an important role in enhancing the stability of the national economy. We are confident that just as the government stood by merchants during the Corona pandemic by launching support packages that contributed to mitigating the effects of that stage, it will continue this role during the next stage by launching more programs and initiatives that support commercial activity.

For our part, if we gain the confidence of merchants and reach the Board of Directors of the Chamber, we will be keen to have an active role in conveying the voice of the commercial street, work in a spirit of partnership with the relevant authorities to propose practical solutions, and contribute to supporting initiatives and programs that enhance the stability and growth of the commercial sector, in a way that serves the interests of merchants and contributes to pushing the wheel of the national economy towards further development and sustainability.”

## Integration of generations and creating the future

The “Sustainability” cluster is distinguished by its ability to link the history and technology of the future. It includes merchants from ancient commercial families who contributed to building the renaissance of Bahrain, along with entrepreneurs and professionals who represent the new generation of economic leaders. This diversity aims to create a professional reference that transfers accumulated experiences to new generations, and opens the way for young people to contribute to leading the process of innovation and development in the commercial sector.

The bloc also confirms that supporting entrepreneurship begins with strengthening the link between education and market needs, and extends to supporting initiatives that contribute to developing the business environment and creating new growth opportunities for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises.

## A realistic and ambitious electoral program

In its electoral program, the bloc presents a realistic and implementable road map, focusing on enhancing the flexibility of the national economy by supporting productive sectors and accelerating the pace of digital transformation in the business environment.

Members of the bloc believe that the knowledge economy is no longer a secondary option, but rather represents one of the basic pillars for ensuring the sustainability of economic growth. Therefore, “Sustainability” places supporting digital transformation in small and medium-sized companies among its priorities, in addition to working to develop e-commerce platforms and enhance the presence of Bahraini products in regional and global markets.

## Support various economic sectors

The bloc also adopts a vision that aims to support vital economic sectors and enhance their competitiveness, by calling for a flexible regulatory environment that takes into account the balance between operating fees and the actual income of companies, in addition to enhancing the opportunities of local institutions to benefit from major projects and tenders.

The food and logistical security file stands out as one of the important axes in the bloc’s electoral program, as “Sustainability” seeks to support initiatives that contribute to developing supply chains and infrastructure for markets and warehouses, in a way that enhances the stability of markets and the availability of goods under various circumstances.

## Call for active participation

At the conclusion of his statement, Kanu called on the commercial street to actively participate in the elections scheduled for March 28, stressing that the strength of the Chamber derives from the cohesion of its members and their interaction with its electoral entitlements.

He pointed out that the “Sustainability” bloc will continue its meetings with merchants to present its electoral program and listen to their comments, stressing that the goal is to strengthen the role of the Chamber as an umbrella umbrella for the private sector and an active partner in supporting the national economic process.