More than 100 traders and owners of small and medium enterprises in Bahrain have urged the government to increase purchases by 30 per cent and put an end to redundant commercial registrations to help cope with the repercussions of the economic crisis.

During a meeting at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry offices on Saturday, they stressed the need to encourage small industries.

The traders also called for uniting banking services to ensure flexibility and an end to collection of accumulated duties levied on imported goods as well as setting new criteria for foreign firms to favour local businessmen.

They also appealed to waive municipal fees, slash electricity and water charges by 50 per cent until the end of the year and suspend health charges temporarily, reports our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.-TradeArabia News Service