Bahrain Eyes Greater Fintech Cooperation

Khalid Ebrahim Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank (CBB) highlighted the resilience of Bahrain’s financial services sector and the growing opportunities for cooperation in digital transformation during his participation at the French-Gulf Strategic Summit 2026 in Paris.

Speaking in a keynote address at the summit, held under the theme “From Cooperation to Transformation” and organised by Business France under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, Humaidan discussed regional economic developments and their impact on Gulf economies.

He noted that recent challenges have contributed to stronger integration among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, while Bahrain’s economy and financial sector have continued to demonstrate stability and resilience.

The CBB Governor also highlighted Bahrain’s response in supporting individuals and businesses through financial support measures introduced by the Central Bank, including loan payment deferral programmes and liquidity support for banks.

He explained that the initiatives were designed around key objectives, including strengthening economic impact, reducing financial pressures and managing inflationary challenges.

Addressing Bahrain-France relations, Humaidan said the long-standing partnership between the two countries provides further opportunities to expand cooperation in financial innovation.

He emphasised that the financial services sector remains Bahrain’s largest economic sector and a key driver of investment and high-value employment, adding that areas such as digital payments, regulatory technology (RegTech), and the future of money present promising areas for collaboration between Bahrain and France.

The French-Gulf Strategic Summit 2026 was held at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, bringing together senior officials and business leaders from GCC countries and France to strengthen economic ties and strategic cooperation.