Bahrain, Saudi push strategic Economic Partnership
TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have taken a new step in advancing economic integration, launching a raft of joint sectoral committees and strategic initiatives at the eighth meeting of their Joint Business Council held in Manama on Wednesday.
The meeting brought together ministers, diplomats and business leaders from both nations, reflecting the intensifying drive to harmonise commercial frameworks under Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Shared path forward
H.E. Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, described the bilateral relationship as a unique model of Gulf integration that transcends borders. He noted the Kingdom’s enhanced investment landscape and welcomed the decision to treat Bahraini products as local within the Saudi market, calling it a “landmark enabler” of economic fusion.
Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain H.E. Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi echoed the call for joint execution, saying the council is one of the arms through which the aspirations of both leaderships can be transformed into sustainable economic growth.
Building the framework
Bahrain Chamber Chairman H.E. Sameer Nass stressed that the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is central to driving integration. He confirmed the launch of new joint committees on industry, logistics, and a foundational body to establish a Saudi-Bahraini construction materials company as a sectoral pilot.
Trade between the two countries reached $984 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 2 percent year-on-year rise and reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s role as Bahrain’s top trade partner.
From vision to delivery
Majed bin Mahil Al-Buqami, the Saudi representative on the council, described the meeting as “a new link in a productive chain,” while highlighting the need to focus on competitive investment sectors, share data and experiences, and expand bilateral trade beyond goods into capital and services.
Khalid Mohammed Najibi, First Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber, called for continued cooperation to remove cross-border trade barriers and enhance infrastructure, stressing that bilateral synergy in areas like logistics, finance and energy can raise both economies’ global competitiveness. The meeting concluded with a call to activate recommendations through joint public-private task forces, strengthen policy alignment, and prioritise project implementation in line with Vision 2030 goals on both sides.
sfds
Related Posts