• Home
• /
• Business

UAE-Bahraini Joint Committee Meeting Concluded

MANAMA - The UAE-Bahrain joint committee’s sixth meeting concluded here on Wednesday. UAE side was led by Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa led his country’s side.

In the meeting, Shaikh Abdullah affirmed the two countries’ willingness to step up cooperation in all fields.

“The two countries took part in the GCC summit, held in Kuwait last week, and both had a positive role in tabling constructive proposals, enabling the summit to come up with important decisions and recommendations for the benefits of the peoples of GCC countries,” he said.

Shaikh Abdullah indicated that the sixth meeting of the committee was held amid great interest in the two countries to take further steps towards strengthening economic and investment relations.

Shaikh Abdullah also revealed that the two-way trade between the UAE and Bahrain accounted for Dh9 billion in 2008. “We seek to increase volume of trade exchange in the years to come. The joint committee meetings represent a perfect platform to explore opportunities for joint investments, especially for the private sector institutions,” he added.

Shaikh Abdullah expressed the hope that the two countries will continue to hold such meetings to further strengthen bonds.

Shaikh Abdullah and Shaikh Khalid signed the meeting’s minutes at the end of the session.

The two countries signed an MoU on mutual recognition of certificates from UAE’s National Transport Authority and Bahrain’s General Organisation of Sea Ports. Another MoU was signed on coordination in protection of environment, marine eco-systems and wildlife.

In a joint statement, the two countries expressed satisfaction at the levels of cooperation achieved within the committee.

According to the statement, the two countries agreed to study MoUs on consumer protection, trading and stamping of precious stones, increasing exchange of visits by trade delegations and members of chambers of commerce.

The two sides praised the ‘fruitful’ cooperation in energy, manifested in Mubadala’s participation in the development of Bahraini oilfields. They also welcomed the MOU signed by Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and Masdar.

The two sides reviewed the projects to be implemented by Federal Water & Electricity Authority (FEWA), especially in the fields of energy and water transport, electricity and renewable energy.