Bahrain participates in CII Partnership Summit

A high-level business Bahraini delegation arrived in Bangalore, India, today to attend the CII Partnership Summit: "Emerging Global Value Chains: Building Partnerships", taking place in Bangalore, India from 27-29 January. The three-day event will see back-to-back plenary sessions with government and private sector leaders from around the world, discussing critical issues relating to global trade and economic partnerships. The Bahraini delegation comprises the following membership: Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Dr. Essam Fakhro, Chairman, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Othman Mohamed Sharif Al Rayes, Treasurer and Board Member, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) Khalid Al Amin, Board Member, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Mohammed Dadabhai, Chairman, Dadabhai Group; and, Vivian Jamal, Executive Director, Business Development in the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Minister Kamal bin Ahmed said: "It is a great pleasure to be visiting Bangalore and representing Bahrain at the CII Partnership Summit. We Bahrainis are an outward-looking people, and great advocates for trade liberalisation, understanding that by opening our markets we can better facilitate investment and encourage growth across our region and beyond. Bahrain has an open and liberal economy that enables Indian and other international investors to thrive, and grants unrivalled access to the other markets of the GCC. Not only that, Bahrain has a number of international free trade agreements in place, including with the USA." Dr. Essam Fakhro said: "The GCC is a fast growing market, currently worth $1.5 trillion, and Bahrain is uniquely positioned at its heart offering Indian and other international investors with unrivalled access. Bahrain has a favourable business environment that includes clear and easy regulation, competitive tariffs, a highly skilled local workforce and quick access to the other GCC markets, including Saudi Arabia, the GCC’s largest market, via a causeway." India and Bahrain have a longstanding bilateral economic relationship strengthened by growing trade, reaching $1.7 billion in 2011 according to the International Monetary Fund. A large number of Indian businesses have established operations in Bahrain as a means of accessing the wider Gulf market, which is now worth $1.5 trillion and is set to reach $2 trillion by 2020. Several leading Indian financial and banking corporations have set up offices or facilities in Bahrain. Indians make up a considerable proportion of Bahrain’s population and enhance the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.