Britons and Bahrainis are optimistic that a new initiative launched recently will foster a dynamic and productive commercial environment between the UK and Bahrain in the areas of trade, investment and economic development.

The new Bahrain British Business Council (BBBC) launched in November is being described as an exciting new initiative which will seek to build on the profound and enduring friendship that exists between Bahrain and the UK.
The reforms that Bahrain has been implementing are making the kingdom “one of the most accessible economies in the region and one of the most successful in attracting foreign direct investment” says Afnan Al Shuaiby, secretary general and chief executive of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (A-BCC), London, where the new council was launched.
UK visible exports to Bahrain in 2006 amounted to £263.6 million ($515.6 million) in 2006, an impressive 45 per cent increase on the previous year.  Exports in the first half of 2007 were 23 per cent higher than in the first half of 2006. 
Possibly the first initiative of the new council will be a follow-up on a proposal for a major new university development in Bahrain. The main Bahraini partners in this venture are Khalid Al Zayani and Al Zayani Investments, who have experience of working on a similar venture in the US.
A-BCC chairman Sir Roger Tomkys, a former British Ambassador to Bahrain, will be playing an important part in the BBBC with the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce taking a lead role on the British side of the council.
 Guest of honour at the launch of the BBBC was Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).