Regulations ensuring fair and transparent distribution of construction materials will be issued soon in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It is part of efforts to avoid monopolies and prevent price speculation, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro said.

Violators will be prosecuted, he told our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

The minister warned against smuggling of subsidised products, including iron and cement.

Bahrain is holding talks on importing cement from Thailand in exchange for chemical products. It is also part of a GCC joint committee set up to study the feasibility of bulk purchasing to ensure lower prices.

A Philippines proposal to set up livestock farms in Bahrain and other GCC farms countries is also under study. - TradeArabia News Service