Manama: Three Chinese business delegations visited Bahrain last week with a view to strengthening investment co-operation, the Economic Development Board (EDB) announced yesterday.
A statement said representatives from the EDB discussed strengthening economic ties with members from the Quanzhou province, which included representatives of businesses in the areas of water treatment, logistics and retail.
As part of the meeting, the delegates were briefed on the kingdom’s open business environment, the investment opportunities it offers as well as competitive advantages, including its national qualified workforce, and affordable and low-cost living environment.
The EDB representatives also made presentations on efforts made by it to attract foreign businesses and encouraging them to establish operations in the kingdom.
“The EDB has met 19 Chinese business delegations this year, representing different provinces and areas from China,” EDB chief executive Khalid Al Rumaihi said.
“These visits aim to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between our two countries and showcase Bahrain’s business environment as an attractive choice to Chinese businesses, specifically through joint co-operation and ventures.”
“This also highlights the success of efforts by the EDB to attract Chinese investments to the region, who are looking to benefit from the kingdom’s competitive business advantages as well as its strategic location as a gateway to the Gulf markets.”
Mr Al Rumaihi also met a Chinese delegation representing the Invest Shenzhen organisation, a dedicated entity to attract and promote business and trade in Shenzhen.
The meeting discussed Bahrain’s business environment, covering the Islamic finance sector specifically as well as means of co-operation between the two sides and attracting Bahraini investments to Shenzhen’s Qianhai economic zone.
In a separate meeting, officials from the EDB discussed trade ties with representatives from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) – Qinghai, which includes various Chinese businesses in different sectors looking to expand their operations internationally.
The CCPIT – Qinghai include companies in different areas that include law, real estate development, tourism, airlines, manufacturing, banks as well as companies that specialises in financial services, information and communications technology, legal advisory and electronics.
In September, a high-level business delegation from Bahrain conducted a 10-day visit to China, organised by the EDB.
The visit resulted in the signing of 15 agreements between Chinese companies and trade entities and look to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries.
The delegation also took part in the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, at which Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to be guest country of honour.