Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America reviewed bilateral ties in trade, financial services, ICT, investment, commerce and business sectors, thanks to a successful visit by the Economic Development Board to the US providing a rare opportunity to investors and businesses to explore avenues of cooperation to take the ties to the new level.
It came as the EDB has announced on Sunday that it had concluded a strategic five-day visit to the United States (US), which kicked off from September 29 to October 3. Led by Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, the delegation included senior members from Bahrain’s investment-promotion agency. The visit aimed to showcase Bahrain’s compelling value proposition and ease of doing business to leading U.S based companies, with a particular focus on key sectors, namely financial services, manufacturing, and information and communications technology (ICT).
Investment data showcases the strength of the US–Bahrain economic relationship. US direct investment in Bahrain grew 38.6% from USD 387.4 million in 2020 to USD 537 million in 2024. In 2024, the United States ranked as Bahrain’s 10th-largest investor, contributing USD 37.8 million, primarily in ICT, financial services, and manufacturing. Notable American companies with a presence in Bahrain include Amazon Web Services, American Express, Citibank, Cisco, Kimberly-Clark, and Mondelez, reflecting the Kingdom’s supportive and business-friendly environment.
During the visit, which comprised both Los Angeles and San Francisco, the Bahrain EDB held a series of high-level meetings and curated networking dinners to prospective investors and business leaders. Across these professional exchanges, Bahrain’s competitive advantages, supportive ecosystem, and future-ready highly skilled talent were highlighted to companies looking to tap into regional growth opportunities across the Gulf region.
In addition to exploratory meetings held with leading US-based publications as part of Bahrain EDB’s international strategic marketing and communication outreach efforts, an interview was secured with Bloomberg. During the interview, H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif highlighted the robust and longstanding ties between US and Bahrain, outlining how Bahrain continues to position itself as a global business hub, reiterating the island nation’s commitment to advancing technology and innovation.
As part of the programme, the Bahrain EDB co-hosted a networking event and dinner in San Francisco in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review. Kicked off with opening remarks from H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif and attended by Elizabeth Bramson, CEO and Publisher of MIT Technology Review, alongside C-suite executives from across the Bay Area’s globally dominant tech scene and AI ecosystem. Throughout the evening the conversations were guided by Brian Bryson, Director of Event Content and Experiences at MIT Tech Review, where the discussions explored the role of artificial intelligence in driving innovation, productivity, and competitiveness across international markets, highlighting key milestones Bahrain has achieved in the tech space, and earned success in fostering a thriving, digital-first and knowledge-driven economy.
Bahrain and the United States share a long-standing strategic and commercial partnership that spans more than a century. The relationship reinforced under the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), which further enhanced bilateral cooperation across emerging technology, trade, and investment. The US Trade Zone, strategically located near Bahrain International Airport and the King Fahd Causeway, is reserved for US-based companies operating in the island nation of Bahrain. The zone complements the US–Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, in force since 2006, and was designed to deepen economic, commercial, and industrial cooperation.
This tactical visit reinforces Bahrain’s commitment to attracting strategic foreign investment and deepening bilateral economic ties with the United States. The Bahrain EDB, with the support of Team Bahrain, continue to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for financial services, manufacturing, and digital innovation, supported by competitive operating costs and enhanced connectivity to regional and global markets.
