Bahrain-based companies to launch Gulf roadshow

Bahrain’s attractive business environment will be showcased in a travelling exhibition in four key GCC cities in September.

The Bahrain Mobile Exhibition will see a team of 30 Bahrain-based companies visit Kuwait City, Doha, Dammam and Riyadh to present details of opportunities available to firms in sectors including banking, real estate, education and tourism.
The event, hailed as the first of its kind in the region, was announced at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) by the organisation’s chief executive Ahmed Alnajem. The delegation will travel to the region under the patronage of Bahrain’s Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro.
“There are a variety of approaches in marketing but the best approach is to reach out to the customer and not wait for the customer to come to you.
“That’s why our country now has the fundamental opportunity to bring a lot of investment to our environment. We are just trying to get the benefit of our position within the GCC and go out and see those in the other nations,” Mr Alnajem said.
Bahrain Mobile Exhibition has been organised with the support of the appropriate local chambers of commerce in each location and will open in Bahrain on September 2 before travelling to Kuwait City, Doha, Dammam and concluding in Riyadh.
Mr Alnajem said the holding of the event in September means it is well placed to take advantage of a post-summer desire to get back to business.
“The exhibition will be in each country for two days and will be covered in the media in each location. The time is good as people have returned from their holidays and everyone’s mind is turning to business again. They will hear there is an exhibition happening in their city and be curious visit.
“We will tell them about the finance sector, and we have the real estate sector where there are no limitations and everybody can invest.
“I think in Europe there are a lot of mobile exhibitions, but it will be the first time that such an exhibition will be staged in the region,” he explained.
Asked why the UAE was not on the exhibition’s itinerary, Mr Alnajem said there had not been sufficient interest. “There is no big reason why it is not going to UAE or even the Sultanate of Oman – it depends on their willingness to be a part of this exhibition. It was open to all GCC countries – I think they didn’t show good willingness to participate in this exhibition,” he said.
The touring showcase is the brainchild of Bahrain Horizon event organisers, who submitted the proposal to the BCCI.
Bahrain Horizon’s Ahlam Janahi said the announcement of the event was designed to attract Bahrain-based companies to take part.
“Our target is the big projects in Bahrain. Companies do not have to be Bahraini to participate – as long as they have activities and commercial registration in Bahrain any firm can take part.
She also revealed her determination that the event would grow as the years progress.
“We will start with four destinations in the first year then after that if we have been successful it will be much wider and visit different countries.
“Next year perhaps we will go to all of the GCC, some countries in the wider Middle East and then eventually even some countries outside the region.
“It’s like a journey and hopefully in ten years time we could be going worldwide,” she said.
Ms Janahi, a prominent member of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, also revealed efforts are underway to attract companies run by women to join the mobile exhibition.