‘COVID-19 has paralysed activity in 7,000 stores in Manama old market’

TDT | Manama

An appeal has gone out for urgent support to save more than 7,000 commercial stores in the Manama old market. Bahraini businessman Mahmoud Al Namlity said that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has paralysed the commercial movement almost entirely at the historic heritage bazaar.

Many stores have already closed after accumulating losses and following their inability to fulfill their financial obligations, especially in the summer season, as there appears to be no hope that life will return to the old market in the shortterm, Al Namlity explained.

Al Namlity called for providing a financial stimulus package for shops in the Manama old market, saying that small amounts of support can save many Bahraini merchants and help them stand firm in the face of the crisis, and to pay even a tiny part of the rent entitlements, workers’ salaries, fees, and electricity and water bills.

He stressed the importance of the support provided by Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to institutions in the private sector, noting that this support has been extended to owners of the most affected institutions in various sectors such as restaurants, tourism offices, and training institutes, adding that it has protected them from bankruptcy.

He noted, however, that most of the Manama old market merchants were unable to obtain Tamkeen’s support for several reasons, including the lack of knowledge of how to apply for it, or the difficulty of providing the required documents.

“Everyone knows that many of the Bahraini merchants in the Manama old market are tenants with an old, non-renewed lease, or share electricity bills with neighbours, and are unaware of how to prepare income reports, and may not have a bank account at all,” Al Namlity said.

He pointed out the significance of the efforts being made by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, through the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, in developing a large number of storefronts in the market, and giving them an artistic heritage look, while explaining at the same time that many market traders, especially in its sub-markets like Tawawish and Haddaden, were relying on tourist groups to the market and their contributions to moving the depression, even in a simple way.

This has not happen this year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic.“We urge to deal with the Manama old market from a commercial, cultural, heritage and touristic point of view, and that is very important for the Kingdom, similar to the Mubarakiya market in Kuwait,” Al Namlity said.

“The concerned authorities must assume their responsibility to save the market and prepare it for the post-coronavirus stage and develop a comprehensive plan to promote it as a touristic and commercial attraction to tourists.”