Bahrain’s financial services sector continues to demonstrate robust resilience, offering fertile ground for future international partnerships driven by digital transformation, Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor Khalid Humaidan has affirmed.
Delivering a keynote address at the Vision Golfe 2026: France-Gulf Strategic Summit in Paris, Mr Humaidan highlighted how the GCC has emerged more economically integrated despite recent regional developments. The high-level summit, held at the French Ministry for the Economy under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, convened under the theme ‘From Co-operation to Transformation’.
Addressing senior international delegates, the CBB chief detailed Bahrain’s proactive economic safeguarding measures, specifically pointing to the central bank’s comprehensive support package designed to protect local businesses and individuals.
This intervention included a three-month loan deferral programme alongside targeted liquidity support injected directly into the banking ecosystem. Mr Humaidan noted that the measures were strategically engineered to maximise overall economic impact, limit broader fiscal fallout, and effectively contain inflationary pressures.
Mr Humaidan stressed that the financial services industry stands as the kingdom’s largest economic sector, serving as a critical engine for high-value job creation and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Turning to bilateral ties, he noted that the deep-rooted relationship between Bahrain and France paves the way for advanced co-operation in financial technology.
“The long-standing relationship between Bahrain and France opens strategic avenues to deepen co-operation in financial services innovation,” Mr Humaidan stated, identifying digital payments, supervisory technology (suptech), and the future of money as prime sectors for immediate Bahrain-France collaboration.
Organised by Business France, Vision Golfe 2026 serves as the premier platform for fostering economic ties and strategic co-operation between France and the GCC, bringing together senior government ministers, policymakers, and private sector business leaders.
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