MERGERS between Bahrain’s food companies are likely to feature as part of a four-year plan to streamline the sector, it has emerged.
A new subcommittee formed by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) aims to increase collaboration and help safeguard food security.
Bahrain relies on food imports given its lack of agriculture and farming, but a longer-term plan is also being drawn up for the next decade to ensure more sustainability, revealed Food Wealth Subcommittee chairman Khalid Al Amin.
“The priority is to advance the sector mainly by lifting the fallen establishments and by setting up more collaboration, which will help the economy in the longer run,” Mr Al Amin told the GDN.
“Merger of companies – small and medium – with larger corporates is the aim, which will also help us to contribute to Bahrain’s food security situation.
“The main challenge is the lack of streamlined action, which is important to this sector, which we hope to overcome through a short four-year plan and another long term one – spanning eight to 10 years.
“There should be more research and development in the sector as well as innovation, making the best use of technology and by following international experiences.
“The committee will meet soon to finalise the way forward, while I am personally initiating a succession plan so that after four months young members should take over and continue the work.”
The subcommittee is one of 10 announced by the BCCI, each with a maximum of 10 members, following a meeting last Saturday.
Mr Al Amin said around 15 companies needed help.
“There are around 17,000 retailers in the sector, but around 15 are fallen companies as a result of various reasons – including financial crisis,” he said.
Another subcommittee focused on education, led by Applied Science University chairman Dr Waheed Al Khaja, aims to improve standards.
“We need to focus more on the quality of education, for which we need to network among schools, universities and training institutes, as well as collaborate with international universities,” he said.
“The committee will soon come up with a five-year plan, which includes exploring possibilities of international tie-ups with universities.
“Our goal is to place Bahrain on the international map of higher education in the next five years.”
The other new subcommittees are Industry and Energy headed by Hamid Al Zayani, Real Estate and Construction headed by Dr Manaf Hamza, Transport and Logistics headed by Ahmed Al Nima, Health headed by Dr Abdul Majid Al Awadhi, Financial, Insurance and Tax headed by Sawsan Abdelhassen, Technology headed by Dr Osama Al Baharna, Hospitality and Tourism headed by Kadhem Al Saeed and Commercial Markets headed by BCCI board member Abdulhakim Al Shemmari.
“The chairmen and members of the committees have been chosen on the basis of the criteria of specialisation and competence after a thorough check of over 800 applications received by the Chamber,” said BCCI chairman Sameer Nass.
“The registration as announced was open to all and the selection was done in full transparency.
“This is the first time in the history of the chamber there has been a restructuring of the subcommittees, one of the pillars of BCCI, and as announced it was part of the 100-day plan of the new board.”
The BCCI board completed its first 100 days on June 30.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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