Manama: Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, announced a package of new initiatives aimed at enhancing Bahrain's investment environment and supporting the sustainable growth of the industrial and commercial sectors within the promising Gulf market, during his participation in the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum 2025. The Minister highlighted 12 promising industrial investment opportunities developed in partnership with the private sector, designed to substitute imports worth up to USD 2 billion and generate over 3,000 local procurement opportunities through the localisation of food processing, downstream petrochemicals, advanced manufacturing, and transport industries.
According to Bahrain News Agency, these opportunities were identified through joint efforts between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), and Mumtalakat Holding Company, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, and will be presented to potential investors in the Kingdom's industrial sector. Minister Fakhro urged investors to take advantage of these opportunities, which are supported by competitive incentives allowing duty-free access to Bahrain-made products across GCC markets that offer preferential treatment in government procurement, in addition to access to over four billion consumers worldwide through Bahrain's network of free trade agreements. He noted that Bahrain actively participates in the GCC's unified negotiating team to conclude more than 10 new free trade agreements, further boosting the competitiveness of national exports.
As part of efforts to advance industrial development, the Minister announced plans to expand industrial zones in the northern and southern regions of Bahrain by a total area of 3 million square meters, aimed at attracting high-value industrial investments, localizing production, and providing advanced, sustainable infrastructure. Minister Fakhro also outlined several new policies adopted by the Ministry, including regulatory standards for installing photovoltaic energy systems in industrial zones, as part of efforts to improve resource efficiency and promote green production through the Green Factory Label and Industrial Transition Accelerator initiatives.
He further noted the updated customs exemption regulations for industrial inputs, designed to enhance local value-added production, strengthen supply chain sustainability, and enable Bahraini factories to expand in line with the Industrial Sector Strategy (2022-2026) and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. He also announced the launch of a credit rating platform for commercial establishments, developed in partnership with BENEFIT Company, as a strategic initiative to support SME financing by providing transparent and accurate financial and operational assessments, thereby facilitating access to funding based on reliable data and criteria.
Minister Fakhro noted that applications are now open for the SME Development Fund, which was first announced during the 2024 edition of the forum, as part of national efforts to empower this vital sector. He also announced the launch of the National Innovation Strategy (2025-2035), aimed at positioning Bahrain as a regional hub for industrial and commercial research, development, and innovation.