Export Bahrain facilitates $100mln deals through SMEs

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MANAMA: Export Bahrain has achieved the key milestone of facilitating more than $100 million in export value through small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since its inception.

In a statement yesterday, the official export platform of the kingdom said the milestone was achieved last month.

The number is more than double the $46m level achieved as of November 2020, when it had enabled 42 product and service categories to reach more than 45 markets worldwide.

An initiative of the national SME Development Board, Export Bahrain was established in November 2018 and has since helped SMEs based in the country to export more than 51 different product and service categories across 10 sectors.

The organisation has also supported products and services that are made in Bahrain reach more than 55 markets across the GCC, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, the UK and the US.

Despite the onset of Covid-19, the export value facilitated through Export Bahrain in the first half of 2021 has already surpassed the total export value of 2020 due to the increased awareness and shift in mindset of local businesses.

There has been a 15pc rise in the number of new exporters in the market leading to a 34pc increase in new markets tapped into globally through Export Bahrain.

Commenting on the milestone, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister and SME Development Board chairman Zayed Alzayani said: “Export Bahrain has proven to being critical to our efforts in stimulating economic growth and development over the past two years – achieving over $100m in export value through SMEs represent a key milestone for Bahrain’s internationalisation efforts. This exemplify the significant value exporters bring to the national economy and building on their growth potential to reach customers around the world and advance opportunities to promote for products and services made in Bahrain within the global market.”

Also commenting was Export Bahrain acting chief executive Safa Abdulkhaliq who said: “The fact that Export Bahrain has achieved this figure in just over two years of operations shows that products and services made in Bahrain can successfully compete in the international market, which is a great source of national pride. This milestone is just the beginning for Export Bahrain and businesses based in the kingdom as we aim to achieve even higher feats in the foreseeable future.”

Export Bahrain offers tailor-fitted strategic solutions to local businesses looking to diversify their product range and reach foreign markets.

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