EDB set to launch key US roadshow

The Economic Development Board (EDB) is set to hold a five-day intensive roadshow in the US with the participation of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and accompanied by a number of Bahraini private sector businesses. The roadshow will start tomorrow, and will include visits to Los Angeles, Long Beach, Minneapolis and St Paul, where the delegates will hold business and promotional meetings with US local government representatives, business communities and journalists. The objective of the roadshow is to attract investments to the kingdom and to help create job opportunities for Bahrainis. This is to maximise benefits of agreements inked between Bahrain and the US, especially the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The sectors of interest will include manufacturing, ICT, logistics, plastics and chemicals, professional services, food and beverages and aluminium. Meetings will also be held to discuss ways to support US companies seeking to enter markets in Bahrain and the Middle East. "This roadshow is part of joint plans of the EDB and the private sector. We will focus on examining joint investment opportunities in a number of targeted vital sectors, and will highlight the competitive advantages of the investment environment in Bahrain," EDB chief executive officer Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa said. "Such visits contribute to the creation of high-quality job opportunities for citizens that meet the objectives of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and this roadshow is amongst our continuous efforts to promote Bahrain abroad, which also include roadshows in the UK, Germany, France and Italy later this year," he added. BCCI chairman Dr Essam Fakhro stressed the importance of promoting the investment environment in Bahrain and marketing the economic and industrial opportunities in various global forums. "The importance of this roadshow increases especially in this period that requires unifying efforts and co-operation with various stakeholders, especially the EDB, to reassure the global economic communities on the stable and safe situation in Bahrain," he said. The delegation includes Abdulhameed Al Kooheji, Hamed Al Zayani, Khadem Al Saeed, Khalaf Hujair, Khalid Al Ameen, Khalid Al Zayani, Mohammed Sajid, Paddy Gallagher, Rahsed Al Abdulla, Sameer Nass, Samer Al Jishi, Shaikh Hamad Al Khalifa and Tawfeeq Al Moayed. Bahrain is now home to more than 50 US companies including American Express, Occidental, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Kraft, Fed Ex and Dun and Bradstreet.