The Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) has kicked off a five-day strategic visit to the United Kingdom (UK), which will encompass a series of high-profile events, strategic business meetings, and roundtable discussions with a curated list of existing and potential investors across priority sectors, namely financial services and manufacturing. 

 

Led by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, with the support of senior executives from the investment promotion agency, the visit is aimed at promoting the growing investment opportunities in Bahrain, as well as further building on a robust legacy of bilateral and business ties between the two nations. 

 

The series of strategic meetings will also be attended by key stakeholders from Bahrain’s public and private sector, to promote the business opportunities in the island nation. Senior representatives from key UK-based firms operating in Bahrain, such as PWC Middle East, additionally attended, as case studies of industry leaders that successfully expanded their presence, serving as first-hand experience of Bahrain’s business-friendly investor environment.

 

Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif said: "With the United Kingdom being one of our key target markets for us at the Bahrain EDB, this strategic visit provides us the opportunity to showcase Bahrain’s strategic advantages and vibrant investment opportunities across priority sectors. Through these curated events and strategic meetings, with the support of Team Bahrain, we aim to build lasting partnerships that will drive more investment to the country, leading to sustainable economic growth and job creation."

 

Bahrain EDB is set to host two roundtable sessions, the first in collaboration with Sovereign Strategy, the consulting and public relations firm with a global footprint, and the latter with TheCityUK, an industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services. Designed to build a more strategic network of potential investors, both sessions were held under Chatham House rules, offering the opportunity to exchange perspectives through deep dive discussions with C-level policymakers and industry leaders, all while promoting Bahrain’s ease of doing business, highly skilled talent pool, and business-friendly investment environment.

 

On the sidelines of the visit, in partnership with Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC), Bahrain EDB will additionally host key investors at the Newmarket July Festival, networking with strategic partners, potential investors, and business affiliates. 

 

Bahrain and the UK enjoy a longstanding history of bilateral strategic ties that span over 200 years, which have provided a solid foundation that continues to serve for the ongoing development of the bilateral partnership and cooperation on multiple fronts. This is evidenced by the total non-oil trade value between Bahrain and the UK, which as of 2023, reached over $443 million.

 

Numerous leading UK companies, such as Unilever, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Reckitt Benckiser, Mott Macdonald, and PWC, have established a significant presence in Bahrain. Notably, PWC Middle East has recently launched its regional service centre in Bahrain, pledging to hire 250 Bahrainis. - TradeArabia News Service