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Foreword
SPEECH BY DR. ESAM
ABDULLA FAKHRO
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BAHRAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
AT THE ASIAN TRADERS RECEPTION
25 April 2007
On behalf of the members of the Board of Directors of Bahrain Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and the trade and industry community in the Kingdom of
Bahrain, and in my name, I feel highly privileged and honoured to welcome our
Asian partners. I would like to seize this auspicious occasion to laud and
instrumental role being played by Asian traders in furthering and bolstering the
economic relations existing between the Kingdom of Bahrain on the one hand and
Asian countries in general and the friendly Republic of India in particular.
The Republic of India is considered our principal trade partner. It has been
maintaining, all along, an advanced level of relative economic importance in the
Kingdom of Bahrain's dealings with the outside world. India ranks fourth in
terms of the value of exports and re-exports to the Kingdom of Bahrain, while it
ranks eighth among countries from which the Kingdom imports merchandise. The
growth and expansion of these relations have many indications and implications,
which reflect the commendable joint efforts in which, among others, the Indian
traders in the Kingdom of Bahrain have contributed enormously and significantly.
These contributions are manifested in the serious, sincere and fruitful
co-operation with the private sector in Bahrian which we are certain will be
maintained and will gain more momentum and depth to further develop and expand
the economic relations with the two friendly countries.
We believe that it is highly important for Indian traders to double their
efforts in order to increase and boost the volume of trade exchanges, encourage
mutual investments and enhance joint economic action between the Kingdom of
Bahrain and the Republic of India. In this framework, I call for the need to
continue to steer ahead with the implementation of the agreement signed between
the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry which was signed on 12 April 1994 to set up a
Bahraini-Indian Business Council. This council would certainly play a vitally
important role in developing the economic and trade relations between the two
countries and explore all possible means to overcome the difficulties which
hinder the furtherance of these relationship and sending them to new heights and
at the same time find the appropriate solutions to them.
Allow me to seize the opportunity of this fraternal meeting with you to once
gain call on our friends the Indian and Asian businessmen and representatives of
companies and firms in the private sector to benefit from the congenial climate
and business-friendly atmosphere in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This atmosphere is
afforded in the form of flexible legislation, forward-looking laws and versatile
investment opportunities to set up joint investment projects with the companies
and firms in the private sector in Bahrian, particularly conventional and
advanced high-technological industries which Indian has become well known for.
There are also projects in the fields of education, training, health and human
resources development, in which India has high potential and a competitive edge.
There are also countless knowledge-based investment opportunities in the areas
of software, Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITC) and high-end
services, such as computer sourcing and software design and marketing, and such
other opportunities which are highly promising as joint investment projects.
Before I conclude, I would like to highly commend the role which the Indian
community and work force have been playing in the Kingdom of Bahrian in all
economic and social fields, whether in developing the Kingdom's infrastructural
and constructional base, or in education, training and the enhancement and
upgrading the technical and practical skills of citizens. We assure you that the
Indian community and workforce is receiving utmost attention and care by our
leadership.
Thank you for your good listening, and I wish the two friendly peoples of India
and Bahrian more prosperity and success.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh, |
