Highlighting new Additions to "Sijili" Categories Minister of Industry and Commerce Affirms Support to Entrepreneurs

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

H.E. Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, affirmed the Ministry's keenness to continue developing regulatory procedures and decisions for the services provided by the ministry regularly, especially the services aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship, stimulating and encouraging innovation and creativity in this field, to develop SME’s and their competitiveness. This is due to their crucial role in accelerating the pace of commercial and industrial activities while supporting economic diversification, in addition to providing promising opportunities that serve the national economy.

In this context, the Minister referred to Resolution No. (51) of 2024 regarding allowing the practice of commercial activities through a virtual store, where all previous decisions relating to the practice of commercial activities through a virtual store “Sijili” were merged into one decision to ease the reference for investors and entrepreneurs. This was done to also expand the segment that can avail to  "Sijili" by allowing the license applicant to be the owner of an individual commercial establishment or company, or a board member (while ensuring complying with the procedures followed in individual commercial establishments and companies)

The Minister of Industry and Commerce explained that this step came as a result of the increasing demand of Bahraini merchants to register in the virtual commercial store "Sijili", which enables investors and entrepreneurs to practice commercial activities without the need for a commercial address, to simplify the procedure for establishing some of the establishments specified in the decision. Pointing out that in line with the Ministry’s keenness to  involve members of society, specifically the segments benefiting from its services, in designing and developing the services it provides, this decision was issued by Bahraini nationals' market demand and requirements to provide more flexibility for practicing commercial work and supporting innovation according to fair competitive rules. 

His Excellency stated that through this Resolution, the number of commercial activities allowed to be practiced through a virtual store has been increased to include 71 commercial activities, after adding 30 new additional activities to support Bahraini competencies in various fields and to ease entry into business and enhancing a stimulating economic environment.

Notably, the virtual commercial store "Sijili" was launched within the framework of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s efforts to support and encourage small projects and give them the legal status to practice their business, and to simplify procedure for establishing some establishment (such as photographers, translators, trainers, consultants and others)  and its desire to provide a new model for practicing some commercial activities.

“Sijili”, which was launched and regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through previous decisions in 2016 and 2021, enables investors to practice commercial activities without the need for a commercial address, in addition to contributing to providing promising opportunities for Bahraini nationals.