JEDDAH, 30 May 2006 — Selected investment profiles related to industry and real estate were presented by a 22-member Bahraini delegation at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry yesterday. “Our mission is to showcase potential investment areas and also invite businessmen from the Kingdom to visit and invest in Bahrain,” Abdul Jalil Al-Sanad of the Bahrain Investors’ Center at the Bahrain Ministry of Industry & Commerce, said in his presentation.
In focus were 10 industrial projects that have been evaluated for inviting investment, following a study by the UNDP. “Trade is open and so it is expanding. What is being emphasized is the vast scope that exists in many sectors including financial, insurance and real estate,” he added.
Eman Al-Mannai, of Abraj Al-Lulu, Pegasus Realty LLC, and of Superior Realty, said the Saudi investment in real estate was quite high, but it could increase further due to growing opportunities.
Abdul Rahim M. Al-Saeedi, acting CEO of a Bahrain company, said the holding of regular joint commission meetings had contributed to a greater interaction between the businessmen and investors of the two countries.
Various presenters stressed that Bahrain offered the “best investment climate” due to its strategic location — halfway between the eastern and western time zones, a regional market for 100 million people, the hub of aviation in Western Asia, free trade agreement with the United States, and a modern integrated air, sea and road transportation system. “Added to these are Bahrain’s financial and commercial incentives, and pleasant and secure lifestyle,” one of them said.
