More than 400 people of senior officials, investors and businessmen participated from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom.
The goal of this forum was to support and enhance economic, trade, industrial and investments relations and raise trade exchange level between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom as well as view the available investment opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
At the beginning of the forum Bahrain Ambassador to the United Kingdom Alice Samaan delivered a welcome speech to guests and participants and then Industry and Commerce Minister Dr. Hassan Fakhro delivered a speech stating the importance of historical relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom which stretches over two centuries. He also praised the achievements of His Majesty the King in many areas such as political system in the Kingdom and the highest percentage of women engaged in both the political and economic sectors.
The Minister noted that Bahrain has put on record a number of firsts in the region, the first industrial sector in education and training, in public services, in administration and legislation, in the discovery of oil, in economic diversification, in development of the aluminium industry, and the first country in the GCC to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States; and the first to put the foundation of a Vision of 2013 in practice.
The Minister pointed the support and continuous guidance of His Majesty the King and British Prime Minister aimed to deepening relation between the two countries in order to achieve more goals and aspirations and expand relations in many sectors especially the economic ones.
Dr. Fakhro said there were opportunities available to work and invest in the Kingdom of Bahrain including projects that presents during the forum for investors which includes industrial and commercial sectors at different level, which are always welcomed by the Kingdom of especially in light of attractive environment and strategic location which qualifies them to embrace major projects and be a bridge between East and West.
Dr. Fakhro thanked and appreciated event organizers for their prominent role to success the economic forum.
British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy Lord Marland of Odstock also delivered a speech at the event. The forum includes panel discussion on “Opportunities for British Businesses in Bahrain” The meetings was participated by State Minister for communications affairs Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who spoke about the opportunities available in Bahrain in telecommunication sector, Transport Minister and acting Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board Kamal Ahmed, who spoke on Bahrain Airport expansion and the development of transport sector, Dr. Majed Al Noaimi the Minister of Education spoke the opportunities available in education and higher education field as well as vocational training sector.
Then Minister of Housing Basem Yacub Al Hamer reviewed some housing projects and the requirements for this area. Chief Executive Officer of Electricity and Water Authority Shaikh Nawaf Al-Khalifa gave a presentation on the developments of electricity and water as well as opportunities available. Walid Al Saei, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works gave a presentation on construction and services and infrastructure. Acting Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce Ministry Osama Alorrayedh spoke of the development of small and medium enterprises and opportunities available in this area and Adel Al Moayyed Bapco Chairman and acting chief executive gave a presentation on the opportunities available in the Kingdom of Bahrain in oil and gas.
The second panel discussion was on “Bahrain as a gateway to the region” and participated by British Ambassador to Bahrain Iain Lindsay, Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. Esam Fakhro, Chairman of Noon Group Lord Gulam Noon, Chief Investment Officer Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Serge Lepine, Director of Islamic Financial Institutions Supervision at the Central Bank of Bahrain Hussain Sharaf, CEO Standard Chartered Bahrain Hassan Jarrar, General Director of Bahrain and Kuwait, Atkins William Myles and General Manager of Bahrain Fiber Glass Company (BFG International) Dr. Samer Aljishi.
On the sidelines of the event, pictures and brochures exhibition was also held explaining the latest developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain in various sectors.