Al Sakhir, Mahmood Rafique, Editor: Voting for the 31st term of the Bahrain Chamber and Commerce and Industry (BCCI) kicked off smoothly as scheduled on Saturday morning at the Exhibition World Bahrain despite the spate of aggressive attacks against Bahrain in the wee hours and hopes behind such aggression have shattered, thanks to the rare show of resilience of people of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
There are over 30,000 valid voters and the heavy turnover in the morning surprised and indeed is a positive sign that boost the confidence among the investors especially foreigners as situation of a one month US led war hurt one of the booming economies like the UAE very badly. The BCCI Board consists of eighteen members, while the total number of candidates is twenty-seven and this year there is only one panel of 18-members under the banner of Estidamah led by Nabeel Khalid Kanoo. The panels stand a good chance of grabbing most of the slots if not a clean sweep and the private sector has high hopes especially in the post war scenario that may bring a daunting challenge for the BCCI, the largest business platform and the private sector rivets eyes how the Chamber play its role in salvaging the possible problems including the unprecedented recession due to closure or very less activity at the Strait of Hormuz, a life line of the global energy supply chain from this region to the rest of world.
Estidamah strategic alliance vows unite the business community in its endeavour to play as a catalyst in reshaping the Kingdom’s economy.
In addition to Nabeel Khalid Kanoo, the Estidamah Bloc includes the following business leaders Mohammed Al Kooheji; Nawaf Al Zayani; Yousuf Salahuddin; Sonya Janahi; Sawsan Abulhassan; Abeer Almoayyed; Ahmed Al Saloom; Jameel Al Ghanah; Professor Waheeb Al Khaja; Abdulwahab Al Hawaj; Mohammed Adel Fakhro; Shaker Al Helli; Rashad Zaina; Mohammed Nader Diwani; Hassan Bader Kaiksow; Khalid Abdulrahman Juma and Khalid Engineer.
Through this diverse group of candidates, the panel brings together a blend of elite business leaders, professional expertise, and ambitious emerging talent united under a shared vision to support stability and sustainable growth for Bahrain’s business community.
Nabeel Kanoo emphasized that the official submission of the bloc’s candidacy represents both a responsibility and a commitment towards the merchants and members of the Chamber’s General Assembly.
“We in the Estidamah Bloc recognize that the current phase presents several challenges for the commercial sector, particularly considering the regional circumstances and economic shifts taking place across the region. This makes it increasingly important to strengthen cooperation and effective coordination between the Bahrain Chamber and the esteemed government to ensure the continued stability and growth of the commercial sector.
“We also wish to acknowledge the government’s significant efforts and initiatives in support of the Kingdom’s economic sectors, foremost among them the commercial sector. These measures have made a meaningful contribution to safeguarding the stability of the national economy. We are confident that, just as the government stood alongside the business community during the COVID 19 pandemic by introducing support packages that helped mitigate its impact, it will continue to play an important role in the coming phase by launching further programs and initiatives that support commercial activity.”
“Estidamah will serve as an active and credible voice for the commercial sector. Our approach will be rooted in constructive collaboration with the relevant authorities to help shape practical responses, support impactful initiatives, and champion programs that strengthen the sector’s stability and growth, advance the interests of merchants, and contribute to the broader progress and long-term sustainability of Bahrain’s economy.”
“Estidamah Bloc’s ultimate objective is to reinforce the Chamber’s role as a unified platform for the private sector and an effective partner in supporting the continued progress of Bahrain’s national economy.”
