Boosting trade relations between Italy and Bahrain was the aim of the 'Invest in Bahrain' video conference attended on Wednesday by company representatives and senior officials from both countries, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"The recent opening of Bahrain's embassy in Rome, a new ICE (Italian Trade and Investment Agency) desk at Italy's embassy in Manama from 1 July, and the start of direct Milan-Manama flights, show the vitality of bilateral relations," said Italy's foreign undersecretary Manlio Di Stefano, opening the videoconference.
"These developments will be crucial to strengthening bilateral ties, both in the trade and tourism sectors," Di Stefano told the conference.
Bahrain's foreign undersecretary Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al-Khalifa and ICE director-general Roberto Luongo also took part in the event besides "'numerous' representatives from Italy and Bahrain's main companies, the statement said.
Infrastructure, food, fashion and furniture are the most promising sectors for Italian firms, Di Stefano said, recalling the findings of a trade mission to Italy in February led by Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa.
At an unprecedented moment when the entire world is facing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperation between nations is ever-more important," Di Stefano stated.
Thursday's web conference was organized by Confindustria Assafrica and Mediterraneo in collaboration with the Economic Development Board of Bahrain and the Italian and Bahraini embassies.
