Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, delivered a powerful address at the Make in the Emirates Forum 2025.
Fakhro participated in a session titled “Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development”, where he outlined Bahrain’s national strategy.
He focused on smart manufacturing, local content promotion, and cross-border industrial cooperation.
Throughout his remarks, Fakhro stressed the value of collective Gulf action.
He emphasized the need to create practical tools for economic integration and resilient industrial networks.
A central topic was the recently launched Bahrain-UAE partnership in in-country value (ICV) programs and local content cooperation.
This joint move, he said, helps harmonize regional standards and encourages technology transfer and localization.
Fakhro confirmed the partnership enables Bahraini companies to integrate into Gulf supply chains, particularly in petrochemicals, metals, and advanced manufacturing.
Likewise, UAE manufacturers can now access preferential local content benefits within Bahrain’s government procurement system.
These moves, he said, form the backbone of the Integrated Industrial Partnership model, which also includes Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Morocco, and Turkey.
The vision, he explained, involves unlocking joint research, market access, and resource sharing among member countries.
Importantly, Fakhro revealed two new deals under this partnership.
Bahrain has signed agreements to supply iron ore to the UAE and Qatar, totaling over $4 billion.
He said these major transactions prove how the Integrated Industrial Partnership can produce direct economic results.
Raw material access and coordinated trade routes remain central to the region’s industrial growth.
On the sidelines, Fakhro met with UAE Minister Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber to reinforce bilateral commitments.
The dialogue reaffirmed the Integrated Industrial Partnership as a driver for strategic alignment across the Gulf.
