German manufacturing company, RMA, was welcomed to Bahrain today (November 3) at an official ground breaking ceremony for its new plant at the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP).

Industry and Commerce Minister Hassan Fakhro and Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa took part in the event.

Once complete, the new 6,000 sq m RMA plant will manufacture pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) traps and tee pipe fittings for the oil and gas sector. 

The €13 million (BD6.8 million) investment is expected to create over 100 jobs in the Kingdom and 95 per cent of the plant’s output is expected to be exported. 

RMA is the second German firm in as many months to establish operations at the BIIP, following the opening of BASF’s 15,000 sq m state-of-the-art antioxidant blends plant in late September.

At the event, which was also attended by the German Ambassador to Bahrain, Sabine Taufmann, Shaikh Mohammed said: “The decision by RMA to locate its regional operations at the BIIP underlines the attractiveness of Bahrain as a gateway to the trillion dollar Gulf market, and its position at the heart of the majority of the global oil and gas reserves.  Under the stewardship of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the BIIP is going from strength to strength, welcoming high calibre foreign manufacturers attracted by the duty free access to the regional market not available in free zones elsewhere in the region.”

Andreas Truttenbach, managing Director of RMA, said: “The decision by RMA to establish our regional production plant in Bahrain was based on the compelling attributes of the Kingdom as an investment destination.   The offer of a highly skilled workforce, duty free access to the GCC and a low cost base proved highly persuasive. It was a natural choice for RMA.”

The plant is expected to begin operation in August 2012.   – TradeArabia News Service