MANAMA: The Kingdom has an open and liberal economy that enables Indian and other international investors to thrive, and to readily access the rapidly growing GCC market,” Minister for Transportation and Acting CEO of the EDB, Kamal bin Ahmed, told a conference in India.
A high level business delegation on Monday held meetings with a number of key business, political, and media stakeholders as part of their visit to Bangalore, India, during their attendance at the CII Partnership Summit: “Emerging Global Value Chains: Building Partnerships” taking place at the Taj West End Hotel from 27-29 January.
“India and Bahrain have a longstanding bilateral economic relationship strengthened by growing trade, and the CII Partnership Summit is an important platform for us to engage with the country’s leading business people, political representatives, and media outlets to tell Bahrain’s story.
Kamal bin Ahmed, joined by members of the Bahrain delegation, met with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to discuss opportunities to build on the two nation’s long-standing bilateral relationship through future projects.
The Chief Minister also hosted a welcome dinner as part of the CII Partnership Summit 2014. Furthermore, Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry hosted a welcome luncheon.
On the sidelines of the conference, media roundtables and interviews took place with a number of leading Indian publications, including Deccan Chronicle, Deccan Herald, Vijay Karnataka, Voyager’s World and Prajavani, who met with delegates from the Bahrain private sector.
The Bahrain delegation includes Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB); Dr. Essam Fakhro, Chairman, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Othman Mohamed Sharif Al Rayes, Treasurer and Board Member, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Khalid Al Amin, Board Member, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mohammed Dadabhai, Chairman, Dadabhai Group; BR Shetty, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, New Medical Center Group, Abu Dhabi and Vivian Jamal, Executive Director Business Development, EDB.
Leading Indian companies with offices or facilities in Bahrain include Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, First Flight, KIMS, JBF Industries, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda and State Bank of India. With more than 350,000 Indians currently living and working in Bahrain, Indians make up a sizeable proportion of Bahrain’s population and enhance the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.