Bolstering Export Bahrain’s integral role towards supporting national exports: EXPORT BAHRAIN FACILITATES OVER USD 130M OF NATIONAL EXPORTS UP TO 2021

Since inception, Export Bahrain has successfully maintained its integral role in nurturing and accelerating exports of local origin and contributing to its growth.

Export Bahrain has achieved multiple milestones through enabling Bahrain-based businesses, with a special focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to export its products and services to key regional and international markets.

Export Bahrain has facilitated local businesses to go global and expand into international export markets reporting over USD 130 Million worth of exports to more than 57 markets worldwide up to December 2021. The initiative reinforced and increased export opportunities for current, and potential exporters which included over 23% of exporters who entered new markets and over 10% were first-time exporters, where over 7% represented service exports and more than 30% of Export Bahrain customers are women business owners. It is worth to note that from January 2021 to December 2021 alone, exports valued at over USD 70 Million were reported representing a hike of over 70% compared to 2020 targeting various international markets.

Till date, Export Bahrain supported businesses in Bahrain across multiple economic sectors to export more than 56 different product and service categories to reach more than 57 markets across the GCC, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States of America, relying on a diverse range of export solutions and services that allow businesses to boost their operations and provide access to various opportunities through Export Credit Insurance, Export Shipping & Logistics, International Retail Buyer Initiative, Internationalization & Export Advisory Support, International Tendering & Procurement, Export Facilitation & Deal Support, Export Market Intelligence, E-commerce Facilitation, Startup Exporter Solution, in addition to other support schemes that aim to enable exporters to take on more challenging and high-growth export markets.

Building on these achievements, Export Bahrain was able to attract global recognition by winning three prestigious global business awards in 2021, being named as:

• Best Export Service Facilitators for SMEs – Bahrain 2021 in the International Finance Awards 2021
• Best International Deal Facilitators for Start-up Exporters in the Global Business Outlook Awards 2021
• Best Company in Accelerating the Growth of Products and Services Made in Bahrain in the Globee Golden Bridge Awards.

Commenting on this occasion, HE Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Chairman of Export Bahrain stated: “Bahrain based exports are a linchpin of our economy and Export Bahrain is committed to providing export assistance to help Bahrain based businesses succeed and prepare for the global opportunities of tomorrow. Since its inception in 2018, Export Bahrain has emerged as one of the leading national initiatives aimed at supporting businesses in Bahrain to internationalise and capture a fair share of export markets in the GCC and beyond through its high-impact support to the private sector. The results underscore the substantial Bahraini local entrepreneurial talent and exemplify the significant value exporters bring to the national economy and is a testament that Export Bahrain’s strategy would surely contribute to facilitate the achievement of the industrial strategic goals 2022-2026. Working together, we can ensure that exporting remains a pillar of our economy, benefitting our businesses for years to come.”

On her part, Ms. Safa Sharif Abdulkhaliq, Export Bahrain Acting Chief Executive, stated: “Since its inception, Export Bahrain has played a key role in boosting the exports of products and services made in Bahrain. This included the unprecedented circumstances and uncertainties that emerged following the global outbreak of the pandemic. Despite the challenges, Export Bahrain was able to assist more Bahrain-based businesses to expand its reach and access regional and global markets. We are glad to announce that we are eying more positive results, in consistency with the recently announced new economic growth and fiscal balance plan by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the post-COVID era, as we are certain that it will have a positive impact on the Kingdom’s economic recovery in general and exports in particular.”