JEDDAH, 13 December 2003 — A 30-member Saudi business delegation will visit Bahrain from Dec. 23 to 24 to explore prospects of boosting commercial ties between the two GCC countries. According to Yousuf Al-Saleh, vice chairman of the Bahraini Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Saudi-Bahraini Business Council will be set up during the visit. He said the visit would boost what he called “the business partnership” between the two Gulf allies. Businessmen in the two countries will also look at opportunities for joint ventures. Jasim Al-Shadi, secretary-general of the Bahraini chamber, highlighted the Saudis’ growing business interests in his country, which he said Manama was doing its best to facilitate.