Cairo forum organised to strengthen economic ties and opportunities

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

As part of the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Bahrain-Egypt Business Forum held in Cairo, was hosted in collaboration between the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) of Egypt.

The Forum showcased the shared commitment of both nations to deepening business and economic collaboration, exploring new avenues for investment, trade diversification, and sustainable development.

The Forum included the participation of senior government officials from both countries including HE Noor bint Ali Al-Khulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB; HE Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain; HE Eng. Hassan El Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Arab Republic of Egypt; HE Ahmed Kojak, Minister of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt; HE Sameer Abdulla Nass, Chairman of BCCI; Mr. Hossam Heiba, CEO of Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones; and Mr. Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

During her remarks, Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Al-Khulaif affirmed the enduring ties between Bahrain and Egypt, reflecting the mutual commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Al-Khulaif emphasised that the two nations are pursuing an integrated agenda that leverages their respective strengths and competitive advantages to unlock new cooperation opportunities in financial services, technology, logistics, and manufacturing.

The Minister affirmed Bahrain’s commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation with Egypt by encouraging investments, aligning policies, and facilitating cross-border business and trade.

Vision and interest

Fakhro said: “The Bahrain-Egypt Business Forum reflects the shared vision and interest of our leadership to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding the horizons of trade and investment. Bahrain and Egypt share a longstanding partnership built on trust and mutual opportunity, and together we are committed to fostering deeper integration between our economies. By leveraging the respective economic strengths of our countries, we can unlock new opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, logistics, and other strategic sectors and in turn, contribute to advancing economic development and strengthening trade between our two markets.”

During his speech at the forum, Eng El Khatib. Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Arab Republic of Egypt stated: “Bahrain is one of Egypt’s key investment partners, with Bahraini investments reaching approximately USD 450 million in 2024. The joint efforts between our two nations pave the way for unprecedented investment opportunities that will foster sustainable growth. This forum marks a new milestone in the strategic partnership between Egypt and Bahrain. It is more than just a platform for promoting investments; it is a continuation of our long history of successful collaboration.”