The Ministry of Industry and commerce has taken steps to implement recommendations the national dialogue to the ministerial committee in charge to implement National Dialogue visions.
Dr. Hassan Fakhro explained that Ministry’s strategy and its working program to implement Ministry visions contained in the national dialogue is a starting point for the ministry’s work beside government program work and economic vision 2030.
The team in charge in implementing National Dialogue vision reviewed in front of ministerial committee headed by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa mechanisms and timetable proposed which the economic hub includes four subsidiary axes; enhance economic competitiveness, which includes 14 visions; level of government services, includes 3 visions; managing public money; redirect support, includes two visions and a total of 19 visions in regard to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
With regard to national dialogue to update and modern law and legislation system in line with Bahraini Economic Vision and enhance the competitiveness of Bahrain economy, the ministry is working on developing and improving legislative regulatory environment by focusing on a package of projects such as review Law No. “28” for the year 1999 on establishing and organizing industrial areas, Commercial Companies Law, Commercial Register Law, Competition Law and Bankruptcy Law and Commerce Law. The ministry also develops a comprehensive plan to inspect industrial areas.
The ministry emphasized serious attempt to implement Gulf Economic Agreements by all GCC countries to achieve economic integration through its cooperation with all relevant legislative and executive through participation in periodic meetings, as the ministry is working to unification Gulf trade policies such as Unified customs union as well as to support strategy of collective bargaining such as participation in the Gulf negotiating team of free trade agreements.
With regard to developing policies aimed to liberalize the domestic market, taking into account social dimensions, the ministry is prepare a number of laws, foremost a new law to ensure consumers right and duties and monitor the lack of manipulation or fraud or monopoly or any unfair business practices and this work made by Consumer Protection Directorate in cooperation with several bodies and institutions and seek to issue a consumer protection law which is in the process of approval by the legislature. Standardization and Metrology Directorate is working in accordance with Decree No. 16 of 1985 to control over the products to ensure compliance with national technical regulations. In addition to the work of Precious Metals and Gem Testing that set laws and regulations pertaining pearl and jewelry sector.
In regard to simplifying and developing registration and licensing business system, a mechanism has been develop to uniform classicization of industrial activities , in addition review and develop procedures for licensing registration and industrial support.
As for Industrial Property, the ministry plans to develop a system for registration trademarks, patents and industrial designs.
The ministry is working to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain as an attractive economic point with foreign media concern through joint program between the ministry and UNDP specialized in developing trade capacity, where the program reach phase three.
The ministry is seeking in collaboration with several government agencies to facilitate investor’s procedures and fees imposed on investors through scheduling commercial register fees within the project of start business.
The ministry confirmed the need to provide commercial and investment industrial lands with all services taking into account equal opportunities, and put a plan to develop industrial area through establishing new industrial areas in addition to develop existing industrial areas. In addition to establish new economic city as directed by His Majesty the King.
As for expanding manufacturing industries that support basic industries, the ministry confirmed its interest in holding necessary studies to develop quality industrial sector that provide a competitive advantage to the Kingdom, which is the most important iron and steel industry, plastic, fiber glass, energy, stain steal, food industry and petrochemical sector.
With regard to government support, it was confirmed by the ministry to seek all appropriate mechanisms to ensure the arrival of support for those who deserve in 2007 and submitted to the Ministry of Finance and looking for ways to implement it optimally and confirmed its keenness to achieve food security because it is important for the country and citizens in the next phase.
The ministry of Industry and Commerce confirmed its full commitment to implement visions related to the ministry which brought by the national dialogue and confirmed its commitment to implement all government programs and directions and vision 2030.