EDB, Chinese delegates discuss investments

Manama : Forty Chinese investors representing a number of sub-sectors within the food and restaurant industry are visiting Bahrain to explore potential opportunities for cooperation and investment. 

The representatives are from a number of Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Henan, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Ningxia and Shanxi.

The delegation, which is being hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), will be participating in meetings with key officials at the EDB, where they will be introduced to the Kingdom’s key competitive advantages and economic landscape. 

The Chinese delegation will also meet with their local business counterparts at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

EDB officials briefed the visiting delegation about the investment opportunities that Bahrain’s mature and open economic environment offers. 

Companies looking to establish operations in the Kingdom will be able to benefit from the numerous advantages that Bahrain offers investors, including low operating costs, a highly qualified bilingual workforce, and unique access to its GCC neighbours.

The hotels and restaurants sector is also one of the fastest expanding areas of the Kingdom’s economy, totalling 8 per cent over the first three quarters of 2015. 

Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the EDB, commented: “Over recent years, EDB has had a range of discussions with Chinese investors, who have visited the Kingdom as part of business delegations. A common theme we’ve heard from these conversations is that Chinese investors are becoming more interested in the GCC region.” 

He added, “The GCC market is growing and the demographic dynamics are changing, with Bahrain uniquely positioned as a gateway from which companies are able to access this market. Through these meetings, we are hoping to introduce these investors to the Kingdom’s competitive advantages, allowing them to understand the economic climate in Bahrain and the region”.

The delegation’s visit is a part of the EDB’s strategy to strengthen bilateral, economic, and investment cooperation with China, which is one of Bahrain’s leading commerce partners.