Bahrain-Malaysia ties enter new high

The relations between Bahrain and Malaysia entered a new high with the launch of the Bahrain Malaysia Business and Friendship Society last week. The Bahrain chapter of the society with 14 founding members hopes to launch various interactions between the two countries thereby increasing the cultural and trade exchange.

The driving force behind the formation of the society were Shaikh Duaij bin Isa Al Khalifa and Nabeel Ajoor. The launch was graced by the presence of Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid, a prominent business woman and politician in Malaysia. Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa, Under-Secretary, Ministry of foreign affairs also attended the launch.

The Malaysia chapter of the society will be spearheaded by Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid and a member of the Malaysian royal family will be its patron, according to the Malaysian Ambassador Ahmad  Shahizan Abd Samad.

Datuk Dr. Maznah told DT News that there should be highest level interactions between both countries. She welcomed the leadership of Bahrain to Malaysia and promised that her best efforts will be put to bring the King of Malaysia to the island nation.

She says that more efforts should be made to strengthen the ‘Look East’ policy initiated by the Kingdom and adds that her country is a leader in many sectors requiring high quality talent pool and can transform Bahrain through transfer of technical knowhow, talent, and through entrepreneur development programs.

Shaikh Duaij said “in view of the recent global economic slowdown, both Malaysia and Bahrain, like most countries, need to find new ways to achieve growth and sharing ideas and opportunities can only help our two strong nations to grow and increase the opportunities available.”

“The relationship between our two countries was enhanced further by the recent visit to Malaysia by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander And First Deputy Prime Minister HRH  Prince  Salman  bin  Hamad Al  Khalifa. During meetings with The Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, there were discussion on the greater coopertation across various sectors, and especially to continue to build economic ties.”

“The benefits of this collaboration to both countries is strong and it will allow us here in Bahrain the opportunity to have close relationships and ease of trade with Malaysia, a nation that has a long track record of trading with some of the leading countries of the world. Malaysia offers investors a business environment that is quite unique. It has a strong, stable and resilient economy. And they offer attractive incentives to investors, including goof infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and overall, a relatively low cost of doing business” Shaikh Duaij added.

Datuk Dr. Maznah invited Bahrain business to visit her country and to be part of the Malaysian success story.

In her last visit in March, Dr. Maznah was able to trigger a wave of interest among the entrepreneurs in the Kingdom through her presentation and interactions with them. She is also a celebrated entrepreneurship coach and philanthropist in Malaysia, and also actively manages multiple companies and social organizations .

Dr. Maznah met with top business personalities of the Kingdom and also held talks with organizations like BCCI, Supreme Council for Women (SCW) and Economic Development Board (EDB) to pursue greater collaboration among the two countries.

The business tycoon plans to start various projects in Bahrain which will be similar to her successful businesses in Malaysia.

She plans to start an entrepreneurship academy, about which discussion were undertaken with the EDB. Dr. Mazna teaches entrepreneurship programmes in multiple universities and in her programmes she offer entrepreneurially -inclined students opportunities of mentoring with her. She underlines the importance of mentor-mentee relationship, an approach different from the MBA minting approaches of business schools.            

“Everyone needs a good mentor or coach, and the aspiring entrepreneurs under my programme is encouraged to spend many months along with my business to learn the success factors of business,” she said.

She also held talks with SCW regarding their incubator programs and development of women entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur with multiple years of experience, Datuk Dr. Maznah is looking forward to establishing more incubators in the Kingdom and as well as grooming more and more women to take up leadership roles in business as well as politics.

Ambassador Abd Samad, who will be retiring soon after having spent the last five years in Bahrain, has high hopes for fast-paced changes he is trying to usher in the relation between the two countries.” I am happy that the society has been established. I would make all efforts to bring the top leaders of the two nations for greater interactions.”

Many Malaysian companies will be setting up office in Bahrain in coming months, he added.