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A DELEGATION representing the General Organisation of Sea Ports, Economic Development Board and APM Terminals Bahrain, visited Tokyo to promote the kingdom's logistics and maritime credentials and explore bilateral trade opportunities and co-operation between the two countries in maritime, logistics and related industries.
The delegation was headed by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP), who was invited by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Shaikh Daij said: "Today, the Bahrain maritime and logistics industry has the strength and capabilities to compete on a global level more than ever before. The Khalifa Bin Salman Port and Bahrain Logistics Zone now represent a world class logistics hub right at the heart of the trillion dollar Gulf market.
"With these strong credentials we are confident that this visit will help strengthen economic, trade and investment relations in the maritime and related industries between the two countries.
"We hope the visit will lead to enhanced co-operation between our two countries, in all fields, especially in the ports, maritime and logistics sectors."
During the three-day visit, the delegation met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as individual meetings with Japanese logistics companies and discussed potential business opportunities for these companies in Bahrain.
The delegation also visited the Port of Yokohama located on the northwestern edge of Tokyo Bay.
The highlight of the visit was the joint GOP-EDB seminar organised in co-operation with Bahrain's embassy in Japan, entitled 'Opportunities in the Kingdom of Bahrain's Maritime and Logistics Sectors'.
Over 40 companies from various sectors attended the seminar.
Bilateral trade between Japan and Bahrain increased by more than 20 per cent to $1.3 billion in 2008, confirming the status of Japan as the kingdom's second largest global trading partner (only behind the US with which Bahrain has a Free Trade Agreement). Trade relations are expected to grow further with the upcoming GCC-Japan Free Trade Agreement.
Already many prominent Japanese institutions have chosen Bahrain as their regional headquarters, including Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Daiwa Securities, Toyota Training Centre and Nomura.
The Japan visit is the first of four international tours planned this year, continuing on from last year's successful road shows conducted in London, Germany and Dubai.
