Over $32M in exports facilitated

TDT | Manama

Export Bahrain, a key initiative of the Kingdom’s national SME Development Board, has facilitated local exporters to go global and expand into international export markets. It has reported that in the span of 18 months, via its export-focused solutions, Export Bahrain has facilitated over $32million worth of exports across more than 26 various product and service categories to over 32 markets worldwide.

The initiative reinforced and increased export opportunities for current and potential exporters, which included over 25 per cent of exporters entering new markets and over 30 per cent being first-time exporters, where over 15 per cent represented service exports.

In line with Export Bahrain’s commitment to ensure that Bahraini companies embrace world markets, multiple sectors were assisted to export various product and service categories. The initiative played a critical role in extending Bahraini local products and services to other markets and positioning them as future competitors among other global brands.

To date, Export Bahrain has helped exporters reach global markets including the GCC, Europe, Asia, MENA, Africa as well as North and South America. Exporters can tap into substantial export opportunities and access global markets quickly and efficiently through Export Bahrain’s solutions, which simplifies the entire exporting process.

The solutions and channels provided are designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses interested in expanding their products, services, and even presence beyond Bahrain. Export Bahrain is continuing to expand and diversify its suite of export provision solutions to create an enabling environment for current and potential exporters.

Furthermore, Export Bahrain provides resources and solutions that are accessible to all businesses seeking to grow their activities internationally and enables exporters throughout their entire export journey. Amidst these challenging times, Export Bahrain continues to create opportunities for SMEs and local businesses to maximise their success.

Additionally, it will continue to create new outlets, while building the right partnerships with key strategic entities and business partners. Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and national SME Development Board chairman Zayed R. Alzayani stressed: “During the past five months alone, Export Bahrain has facilitated over 40 exports worth over $16million to eight markets, surpassing 2019’s export services figures and facilitating over $32million in exports over the past 18 months.

“Complementing the success, drive and energy of businesses entering global markets, Export Bahrain will continue to work with national businesses and SMEs in particular to achieve significantly greater growth prospects, more resilience, and increased profitability.

“A key objective of Export Bahrain is to promote and encourage the export of Bahrain-based products and services with national content as we showcase our national offerings to a global audience. We are proud of our internationalised businesses and exporters where we will extend every effort through Export Bahrain to promote the commercial brand of Bahrain’s offerings globally, and continue to assist both new and existing exporters.

“We believe the majority of businesses in Bahrain can be product or service-based exporters or build their commercial presence in other markets using Bahrain as their hub, thereby creating continued economic growth and creating new jobs and opportunities for the economy.”

Export Bahrain chief executive Dr. Nasser Qaedi commented: “As we continue to aggressively grow Export Bahraini’s export assistance to businesses in the country and celebrate their success, our 100 per cent growth in export values during the first few months of the year compared to the previous year represents a key milestone, which we will continue to build upon.

Despite the challenges that many businesses are facing globally, Export Bahrain has facilitated over $16million over the past few months where our key mission is to assist businesses navigate around the many potential international opportunities available to them, and thus reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a highly competitive export hub of products and services to markets across the globe.

We are continuing to ensure that our solutions cover all critical areas for businesses looking to go global by providing export solutions in insurance, shipping, logistics, deal facilitation, e-commerce, internationalisation, market information, and many others that can assist all businesses extend their reach beyond the local market.

“Export Bahrain will continue to ensure that product and services exporters in Bahrain gain every competitive advantage to succeed. Especially during this time, to achieve their international growth. We customise our solutions for every business to assist them and navigate towards target internationalisation opportunities.

Our services are designed to add tangible value to exporters and internationalising businesses by lowering costs, building effective relationships with international buyers, and assisting them with access to new markets and new audiences for their products and services.

We have spent a significant amount of energy building fruitful international partnerships that can assist businesses in almost every market across all continents, in order to assist companies build effective long-term commercial links that now positions Bahrain’s products and services in the hands of consumers in over 32 markets and growing.

We are keen to showcase the ample opportunities available to all businesses in Bahrain that exporting is a necessity to fuel growth, and for companies across all sectors to take advantage of our services and solutions to access new opportunities and accelerate their growth.”

Dr. Qaedi added: “Export Bahrain will be announcing numerous new partnerships and solutions that will further provide expanding opportunities and solutions to SMEs in the weeks and months ahead, and we welcome all businesses who are interested in expanding their global reach to contact us.”