‘Make performance key to BCCI polls after each term’

Manama : Board members of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) need to be held accountable on their election promises by publishing the success of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) after each term, according to a businessman. 

BCCI board members in recent years have made huge promises but have very little to show at the end of their terms, said Khalil Al-Qahri, who is running in next month’s BCCI elections. He said that the success of KPIs should be published at the end of their terms for the public to learn what they have achieved.

“We have a situation where BCCI board begins the term without an action plan and without even a to-do list. There are no KPIs that the business community can have them accountable for. 

“This need to change, we need to have KPIs set and published, this will help us know what they been able to achieve,” he said. 

“It is a strange situation when you elect people to represent you but you do not have a proper way to know if they are keeping their promises.

“The board should also be proactive in doing this, they should be keen on announcing the achievements of their terms as they are when they make promises. Now we do not hear anything from them when the term is over, we just move on to the next election without knowing what has been achieved and know if there was any progress in any area,” he said. 

He also said that the BCCI needs to use its funds to set up offices to encourage investments from GCC countries.

 “We could first open an office in Saudi and then later in UAE and Kuwait. The offices could encourage investments to Bahrain and facilitate businessmen, educate them about Bahrain and respond to their queries. The offices could also be used to help Bahraini businessmen invest in those countries,” he said.

“Bahrainis are the most educated and well read in the region. We have a lot of talent and desire but it does not often translate into major successes, we need more success stories,” he added.