MANAMA: The traders and vendors at the traditional souqs across the Kingdom of Bahrain applauded the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) initiative by reaching out this segment of the national economy.
The BCCI Commercial Market Committee led by the 1st Vice Chairman Mohammed Al Koheiji is visiting the traditional souqs as part of the major initiative of the Chamber by reaching out traders, vendors and business owners at the souqs which still forms a major part of the trading activities across the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The second visit of the BCCI delegation included Sitra, East Riffa, Salmabad Garages, Jidhafs and Budaiya Souqs.
Despite multi-billion dollars infrastructure developments which have transformed the retail sector, the basic facilities at the traditional souqs are in some cases are almost non-existent or very limited in other.
At this simmering hot summer days with the mercury rising close to 50 degrees Celsius, the vendors are selling fish in Sitra Central Market without air conditioning and proper shops.
“There is no air conditioning in the Souq making the life for fish market miserable,” a vendor at the Sitra Souq told the delegation of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) during a market visit to the local souqs led by Mohammed Al Koheiji, the First Vice Chairman at the BCCI.
At Sitra Souq, the vendor said, we have one of the best quality fish but tough weather conditions in the summer and winter add a misery to the suffering of the vendors. Why the concerned authorities don’t pay heed to our problems,” he said.
In the same market, there have been other concerns among the vendors including the lack of parking facilities, and visa problems as locals afraid of their businesses threatened by free visa workers.
“I am the only fruit and vegetable trader in the Sitra Souq,” tells one local trader who complains about the menace of free visa workers in the Souq and believes that if this menace won’t be controlled it will threaten the very existence of locals in this family business which passed on one generation to another.
The other traders blamed the mushrooming of markets in close proximity a real concern. “We are in the Souq but we have many shops adjacent to our market which in a way posing unfair competition to the traditional souqs.
The second stop was East Riffa Central Market which relatively is well organized with basic amenities like air conditioning and cleanliness were provided yet parking remained the biggest challenge for visitors of this traditional Souq in the area.
“The working conditions are good in East Riffa Souq, tells Abdulla Ali Abdulrasool who has been in the trading business for the past 37 years.
The fish and meat market is relatively airy, clean and tidy making it possible for people to shop if they manage to car get parking in the adjacent areas of Souq.
The traditional Souqs need to provide with basic amenities such as parking, air-conditioning, covered areas for vendors and easy access to the shoppers.
In many areas the land for parking is available but there is a need for a comprehensive blueprint to preserve this heritage of Bahrain, one of the oldest trading communities in the Gulf region.
The BCCI delegation also comprised of representatives of LMRA, Municipality with, Ministry of Works and other related departments who listened to the issues raised by some traders but hundreds of other issues related to the smooth functioning of this once thriving business of Bahrain are yet to be answered.
The LMRA representative assured the traders in Sitra Souq that all possible efforts will be exerted to address the free visa issue to provide a congenial environment for local businesses.
The BCCI, Municipalities, Agriculture, MOICT, LMRA, Immigration and the concerned Governorates should devise a plan to regulate these national assets carefully and objectively through a sustained model.
What we have seen in the past is a more focus on only one market such as Manama Souq, but these Souqs are spread over all major urban and rural areas of Bahrain. This is not BCCI mandate to carry out preservation or construction works in Souqs, Mohammed Kooheiji tells The24X7News Bahrain. “We are listening to the business owners, traders, and vendors and on the basis of the visits, a draft of recommendations will be presented to the board to act accordingly by approaching the concerned Government departments to address the issues.
The second visit was concluded with a sumptuous luncheon organised by the BCCI and the media participants and government entities representatives were thanked by Mr Kooheji.
