Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) chairman Dr Essam Fakhro received at Beit Al Tijjar new Thai Ambassador Vichai Varasirikul and stressed the importance of boosting trade ties.

He also urged the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed between the chamber and the Thai Trade Council.

BCCI board members Abdulhameed Al Kooheji, Jawad Al Hawaj, Nabeel Kanoo, Kadhim Al Saeed and Ahlam Janahi attended along with chief executive officer Ibrahim Ahmed Allanjawi.

Dr Fakhro called for a Thai business office to be opened in Bahrain to bolster partnership between Bangkok and the Middle East.

'Bahrain is the ideal place to serve as a gate for Thailand to access the GCC and the Arab world,' he said.

He suggested setting up a specialised centre to serve as a strategic platform to re-export Thai products to other Middle Eastern countries. Thai expertise could play an important role in promoting tourism and establishing a hospitality institute in Bahrain, he said.

Dr Fakhro also stressed the importance of promoting co-operation, highlighting the chamber's resolve to support joint investment ventures in both countries.

Varasirikul pointed out Thailand's keenness to bolster economic relations and promote Bahrain's investment opportunities in his country.-TradeArabia News Service