From Hong Kong to GCC via Bahrain

Manama : Bahrain has been termed as a ‘highly strategic location’ for trade by a high-profile Hong Kong trade delegation yesterday, citing Kingdom’s business-friendly policies. The delegation from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said it sees the Kingdom as a base to act as a gateway to the GCC region. “The main aim of our visit is to explore the hub to hub synergy with Bahrain being one of our important strategic partners for the MENA market,” Perry Fung, Regional Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council for the Middle East and Africa, told Tribune. 

The delegation said it also aims to explore how Bahrain and the regional countries can use Hong Kong as a hub towards Mainland China and its neighbouring countries “We encourage our Bahraini counterparts to explore the Belt and Road Initiatives which has tremendous potential for attracting inward and outward investment to and from Bahrain,” said Fung on the sideline of a seminar “Hong Kong Investment Opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiatives” held yesterday at The Diplomat Radisson Blu. 

The event was held under the auspices of the Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Sameer Nass and in collaboration with Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The delegation held talks with the BCCI, the EDB and various governmental and non-governmental entities on ways of improving the trade relationship between Bahrain and Hong Kong. 

“We have been discussing with the Chambers and other parties in Bahrain on how we can enhance our relationship with Bahrain. Hong Kong is a very important global investment hub we encourage Bahrain to explore opportunities here,” said Perry Fung. The conference, which brought together business owners and investors from Bahrain and Hong Kong, centred on the incentives of the Belt and Road Initiative - a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government to improve the connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries. 

Earlier, inaugurating the event, BCCI’s Second Vice-Chairman Mohammed Al Kooheji reinstated the keenness of the Bahrain Chamber on t fostering business and trade between Bahrain and Hong Kong and encouraging joint projects. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bahrain to China Dr Anwar Yusuf Abdulla Alabdulla; BCCI Board Member Ahmed Al Saloom; BCCI Chief Executive Officer Shaker Al Shater; Managing Director of Bahrain Economic Development Board Dr Simon Galpin, and other top officials and business owners from Bahrain and Hong Kong were present.