Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry should be run by professionals: Akram Miknas
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Staff Reporter
Talented professionals must be made in charge of running the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) if it has become effective, opined one of the Kingdom’s leading businessmen and advertisement gurus of the region.
Speaking to The Daily Tribune, in light of upcoming chamber elections, Promoseven Holdings President Akram Miknas said the Chamber needs a total to revamp.
“Businessmen can hold titles within the Chamber but the day-to-day functioning and implementation of schemes should be left to professionals to make the Chamber more constructive for addressing the issues faced by the Kingdom’s traders.
“These professionals must be given targets and set objectives to achieve. I have a feeling that the Chamber should not be managed by big businessmen because they will be serving their interests alone.” He said, as of now, the functioning of the Chamber is more aligned to the work of the Economic Development Board and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
“The Chamber lacks a personality and independence of its own.” He said historically the biggest problem with democracy in general and elections, in particular, is that it takes a lot of time for the process to grow roots and for the people to understand. “This process could lead to a few controlling things while serving their interests.”
Mr Miknas suggested the need for the Chamber to implement a three-pronged strategy. “Firstly, the Chamber should eye digital innovation. It should digitalise its systems before supporting all traders to upgrade in this area.
“Secondly, the Chamber should lay new grounds for supporting the business community in line with new trends and new developments in the economy.
And thirdly, the Chamber should encourage promising businessmen by supporting their activities rather than being a bureaucratic organisation meant for elite businessmen in the Kingdom.”
Mr Miknas said the Chamber can also do a lot to promote the Kingdom’s start-up ecosystem. “There are many start-ups in the Kingdom, but none of them has made a global or local impact. Tamkeen is doing a great job in terms of supporting them. The Chamber should also put in best efforts to take our locally-grown start-ups to global levels. And this will only lead to the formation of an entrepreneurial culture in our society.”
He urged all emerging businessmen in the Kingdom to master the latest technologies.
“In contemporary times, no business can succeed without embracing the latest technologies. Technology is the deciding factor for success for any businessman.”
On the Kingdom’s post-pandemic recovery, Mr Miknas said the economy is showing all signs of recovery.
“The recovery is very much on track in the Kingdom. But we must acknowledge that a huge competition exists at all levels, for any industry, be it finance, hospitality or other sectors.
We have to deliver the best services to overcome this competition.” He said the Kingdom’s businessmen have a great role in transforming the economy to a knowledge-based one.
“All businessmen must exert best efforts in this transformation as the future is all about knowledge and innovation and this is in line with His Majesty’s great vision for the nation.”
Related Posts