Export Bahrain and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide further options and support in Export Financing services to Bahrain-based businesses.

The signing ceremony of the agreement took place at the inauguration of the SMEs Development Board Strategy (2022-2026) in the presence of HE Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Chairman of the SME Development Board, which was signed by Export Bahrain Chief Executive Officer Ms. Safa Sharif Abdulkhaliq and Bahrain Development Bank Chief Executive Officer Ms. Dalal Al Qais.

This agreement intends to boost the international growth of Bahrain based business in their export journey by providing Export Bahrain customers with preferential rates in obtaining financial support to aid their exporting endeavors. The provision of Export Financing is an important spectrum of trade finance as it provides exporters with the necessary support to improve their production and delivery lines as well as to be competitive in international markets. 

The new partnership between Export Bahrain and Bahrain Development Bank is the latest addition to the Export Financing solution provided by Export Bahrain, which aims to provide short-term financing and capital requirements for businesses to capture international business opportunities and global growth by bridging the export financing gap for viable enterprises through facilitating access to financing at a low cost, and to provide access to liquidity that cover the input cost to processing export transactions.

Commenting on the occasion, Export Bahrain Chief Executive, Ms. Safa Sharif Abdulkhaliq stated: “Export Bahrain's vision and efforts are geared towards establishing exclusive partnerships to ease and find solutions to the different challenges that Bahrain-based businesses may encounter during their export journey. Hence, through this new partnership with the Bahrain Development Bank, and by enhancing our Export Financing solution, we are confident that exporters would reap the benefits of this strategic agreement by providing them with the necessary and proper channels to access supply chain financing to capture more global trade opportunities."

Bahrain Development Bank Group Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Dalal Al Qais added: “Supporting the global expansion and international growth of Bahrain-based SMEs is a primary objective at the Bahrain Development Bank. Our aim is to extend our key products and services to SMEs from all various sectors at a preferential rate to support their export journey. We look forward to this new strategic partnership with Export Bahrain to enable SMEs access to global markets through providing the supply chain financing solutions that the SMEs need to fulfil their export procedures and deals."

Since its inception, Export Bahrain has successfully facilitated the exports of 59 products and services categories across 11 different sectors valued at over 184M USD to 60 international markets that include the GCC region, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.​

For more information on this new partnership or any other service provided by Export Bahrain, visit www.export.bh, email info@export.bh, or call +973 1738 3999. Stay tuned to the latest news and updates by following @exportbahrain on social media platforms.

Minister of Industry and Commerce HE Zayed R. Alzayani praised the efforts of the Women's Committee in Financial Technology during a meeting with HH SH Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, member of the Supreme Council of Women and Chairman of the Committee, where a number of topics related to women's economic participation were discussed.
 

HE referred to the strategic efforts and programs applied by the Supreme Council of Women headed by H.R.H Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King, which work compatibly with the development visions and high ambitions of the leadership and government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and stressed that the contribution of Bahraini women has achieved success that exceeded expectations and aspirations, noting in the same context the importance of cooperation and coordination between the two parties to achieve more successes and expand horizons for the empowerment and progress of Bahraini women.​
 

From her part, HH SH Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa praised the initiatives of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in supporting women's participation in the labor market, and the ministry's efforts in supporting emerging projects in the field of financial technology as one of the promising areas on which the kingdom's economic growth depends, which witnessed a remarkable turnout by Bahraini women in recent years by participating in various programs and initiatives that could enhance the skills and competitiveness of women in the field.

Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce, HE Ms. Eman Ahmed Al Doseri, received this morning ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Esin Çakıl, in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade, Sh. Hamad bin Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. Where they reviewed the bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Turkey.

During the meeting, a number of economic topics between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Turkish Republic were discussed and ways to strengthen them and activate the role of the private sector in both countries, as well as increasing ways to benefit from each other's experiences and increase the volume of trade. Moreover, they reviewed investment opportunities and possibilities available in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the many concessional procedures and facilitations provided by the Government of Bahrain to investors from all over the world, and the distinctive atmosphere of Bahrain, which makes it the preferred destination for international investments in various different domains.

The eCommerce Champions Overseas Program seminars concluded on Saturday, June 25, 2022, under the patronage of HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce in collaboration with Export Bahrain, (BIBF) and Tamkeen, with the participation of a group of mentoring companies including Annada Brand, Traditional Trends, True Active, Arihant Jewellers and Eatco.
 

The first seminars were initiated by True Active and mentored by Dana Zubari, which discussed the importance of the digital transition of businesses and how to achieve customer satisfaction through online shopping, she also demonstrated the importance of selecting logistics providers according to the exports scale as well as partnering with distributors outside the Kingdom of Bahrain and reviewing marketing methods available to facilitate the company's access to the global markets.

The program's series of mentoring sessions organized by Arihant Jewellers, continued, where the leading mentor Ms. Maryam Ghazi demonstrated the company's exports journey through eCommerce by taking advantage of the solutions offered by Export Bahrain and demonstrated the importance of digital transition to increase the company's profits and enable the company to export and reach number of countries including GCC, Great Britain and USA. Solutions to improve product standards and exports service through eCommerce were also introduced in addition to the challenges the company has faced and how to overcome them.
 

Traditional Trends elaborated on its experience in exports through eCommerce, whereas leading mentor Dalal Hussain presented a range of topics related to eCommerce and exports. As well as hosting a number of eCommerce support service providers to showcase the advantages of implementing the services these companies provide in the field of eCommerce and exports.​
 

Eatco also presented its mentoring sessions which was held by leading mentor Mr. Hadi Dawani, who discussed exports outcomes and its impact on expansion and reaching different markets by taking advantage of their requirements. He also explained how to benefit from the services provided by supporters in the Kingdom of Bahrain such as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Export Bahrain, Tamkeen and other related entities. He also noted the importance of applying the necessary standards for market access such as branding, product marketing and how to analyze data. In addition to demonstrating the leading mentor experience in eCommerce and exports and potential difficulties faced when switching to eCommerce and exports and how to overcome them.
 

The series of mentoring workshops was concluded by Annada Brand, presented by leading mentor Ms. Nada Alawi, focusing on the importance of eCommerce transition by focusing on reducing operational expenses and having greater access to customers. She also illustrated the most important elements of a successful online store such as choosing the right platform, designing appropriate product display images, providing different payment methods and providing delivery services. She also discussed ways of creating an integrated journey for the customer by paying attention to packaging, displaying product information, providing ways to communicate with the online store through chat and displaying a detailed list of communication information and social media channels.
 

Companies and institutions that qualify from this program will be selected and awarded the title of (eCommerce Champion Overseas) based on the program of work that will be provided by the companies benefiting from the transition to eCommerce and exporting abroad.

Minister of Industry and Commerce HE Zayed R. Alzayani received The CEO of Bahrain Exports Ms. Safa Sharif A Khaliq, and congratulated her on the occasion of the announcement of the Board of Directors of Export Bahrain to appoint her as CEO of Export Bahrain and wished her continued success in performing her new duties.​
 

Bahrain Exports is the first national export development and support institution in Bahrain specialized in promoting and accelerating growth rates of Bahraini exports of services and products made in Bahrain through unique solutions designed to help and enable exporters to establish a foothold on the global trade map by entering high-growth export markets.
 

 Mrs. Safa A.Khaliq has over 17 years of experience, mainly in developing and supporting initiatives that effectively enhance the economic environment. She has worked in various leadership positions in several institutions, including (Tamkeen), Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIB) and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), where she focused on project management, developing international partnerships and developing strategies for companies, products and research. In addition to participating in the development of many national initiatives aimed at developing work and innovation and strengthening the environment of SMEs in the private sector in the Kingdom.
 

Mrs. A. Khaliq also received her Master's degree in Project Management from the University of Malaysia and a Bachelor's degree in Management from Bangalore University in India. In addition to many other degrees in various fields, including the Executive Certificate on Innovation and Strategy from Harvard Business School.

Minister of Industry and Commerce HE Zayed R. Alzayani held a telephone conversation with The Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel, HE Orna Barbivai, during which a number of topics related to the industrial and investment sector and ways to develop joint cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Israel were reviewed. ​
 

The two sides stressed the importance of such meetings and economic developments in relations between Bahrain and Israel, which enhance the opportunities for investment cooperation between them, in addition to discussing a number of topics of common concern and ways to develop and increase the volume of bilateral investments and the upcoming stage, HE the Minister also pointed to the role the private sector in both countries can play, which can contribute significantly to achieving common goals. 

Under the patronage of HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce, The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, HE Ms. Eman Ahmed Al Doseri inaugurated the 10th Edition of the Annual UN MSMEs Day Summit, which was held under the theme "Innovation, Entrepreneurship and development of micro, small and medium enterprises towards a sustainable green economy - building resilience after the crisis" organized by the (BSMES) Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society in conjunction with the international celebration of this occasion with the participation a number of ambassadors, senior officials in the Ministry and concerned authorities and entrepreneurs, and in the attendance of Dr. Abdulhasan H. Al-Dairi, chairman of Bahrain SMEs Society .

During the conference, Ms. Eman Al Doseri stressed that the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain gave the utmost attention to the SME sector, whereas Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 aspires to transition from an oil-based economy to a productive and sustainable globally competitive economy, to create a stimulating environment for entrepreneurship and innovation in order to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs. In an effort to develop start-ups and drive them towards further growth and progress to enhance productivity and sustainable development. The SME Development Council, which is now a successful model for uniting efforts and sharing resources to develop plans, initiatives and programs, was established and aimed at diversifying sources of income and supporting the national economy through five main axes: facilitating financing, facilitating market access, simplifying the business environment, developing skills and promoting innovation with the aim of creating a sustainable, competitive and dynamic local sector.

Since adopting the strategy in February 2018, the Board was able to implement 73% of all initiatives by the end of 2021, which is a catalyst for moving forward in pursuit of providing everything that serves the SME sector, so that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and its council partners ensure the development and sustainability as an important engine to the national economy.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce continues its efforts to promote innovation by establishing the Bahrain Centre for Technology and Innovation Transfer in collaboration with the University of Bahrain, to encourage research, development and effective enforcement of intellectual property rights to protect the rights of academics and researchers in order to ensure financial gain for inventors, and commercial employment of scientific research results, as well as licensing and transferring technology to markets, according to the best global practices. Through this cooperation, the Ministry aspires to link the academic sector with the industrial and service productive sectors in the Kingdom, and to build strong connections between higher education institutions on one hand, and emerging institutions and innovative entrepreneurs on the other.

HE. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce, received in his office this morning Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Anwaer Habibullah.

During the meeting, bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of China were reviewed, along with ways to strengthen their cooperation mechanisms in all fields, particularly industry, commerce and investments, as well as discussing a number of issues of common concern.

In the same context, The Minister referred to the economic environment that attracts investments of all types and ranges, praising in this regard the great impact of the mutual visits between officials and businessmen from both countries, which achieves the required growth in these relations, and therefore reflects on the scale of commerce and economic cooperation between both sides.