Allow expat businessmen to contest BCCI polls: Dr Varghese Kurian

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Expatriate businessmen, who are members of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), should be allowed to contest chamber polls, opined prominent expatriate entrepreneurs and investors in the Kingdom.  Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Dr Varghese Kurian, Chairman of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group, said that such an opportunity would serve expatriate businessmen a new role and involvement in boosting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and entrepreneurial culture. 

 “Expatriate businessmen are a major contributor to the economy of the Kingdom and they have a prominent role in developing key sectors of the economy,” he said, adding that the Chamber is now managed by very-able and capable Bahraini businessmen, who have done remarkable contributions to the Bahraini economy and society. “The main role of the chamber is to provide a platform for businesses to grow while boosting economic growth. To ensure this, expatriate businessmen must also play an active role to boost the economy, promote businesses and create new jobs. 

“There is no expat versus citizen debate ongoing here. We expatriates must join the citizens to promote economic growth and this has to be done in great unity,” Dr Varghese pointed out.    “We, expatriate businessmen, are highly grateful to the chamber for offering us membership and considering us as an integral part of the community. But,  I think the expatriate businessmen can contribute further to the Chamber’s growth by becoming elected representatives for different segments.

 “Many chambers and businessmen forums in the region including Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry allow expatriates to contest elections as well as to be nominated to the boards of management. I request the Chamber to enact such steps here as well so that expatriate businessmen are well represented at the decision-making levels of the chamber.”

He said the increasing role of expatriate businessmen in the economic development process must be attributed to the great support offered by the Kingdom’s leadership. “I thank His Majesty and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for the support offered to expatriate businessmen.”  

Dr Varghese hailed the newly-introduced Golden Visa Scheme, pointing out its significance to attract expatriate investors as well as retaining expatriate talent in the Kingdom. 

Since its inception in 1939, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has played a prominent role in shaping the Kingdom’s national economy along with creating a vigorous private sector.

The Chamber has kept abreast of the fast-paced economic and social developments, and consolidated its efforts to stimulate the growth and expansion of the private sector and empower its role in the economic development of the country alongside the public sector. Chamber elections are held once every four years.

According to the Elections Committee for the 30th Session of Board of Directors of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the last day for amending the voters list is March 14, 2022. Elections will be held on March 19, 2020.  To view the voters’ list, please visit the link: https://bahrainchamber.bh/filemanager/uploads// Voters_Table.pdf. 

 The Elections Committee decides to include the names and amend the data for registration in the election list within a maximum period of one day from the date of submitting the request.

Members are informed of the committee’s decision by phone, fax or e-mail. Receiving requests from the chamber’s members to be nominated for board membership will commence from March 3 to 13, 2022.  The Elections Committee reviews the requests and notifies the applicants by fax or email. 

Members have the right to appeal the elections committee’s decision within two days, if they were not included in the candidates’ list. The committee shall decide on the appeal’s outcome and notify the member about the matter by fax or e-mail no later than the following day of the date of appeal.

Election Committee Chairman Adel Hussein Al Maskati earlier reaffirmed adhering to the provisions of the Chamber’s Law and the Executive Regulations to guarantee the proper conduct of the electoral process and the integrity and transparency of the elections.