Pakistan
Pak-Bahrain to further expand bilateral engagements with particular focus on trade, investment, energy and culture
The 2nd Meeting of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission was held on 28-29 July 2021 in Manama which was chaired by Bahrain Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani and Pakistan Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Bahrain FM Dr Al Zayani welcomed the Pakistani delegation and expressed his keen interest in furthering the deep-rooted bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Dr Al Zayani underlined the importance of establishing an open and enabling environment for business and economic cooperation so that the potential for development between the two countries could be fully harnessed.
He also highlighted the two countries’ efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, from its very outset, as an outstanding example of their close and effective cooperation, noting the efficient work to repatriate citizens back in 2020, the free access to vaccination for the Pakistani expatriate community, and the ongoing care and assistance provided to Pakistanis in Bahrain.
For his part, Pakistani FM Qureshi thanked the Bahraini side for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to His Excellency and his delegation.
He highlighted the longstanding relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, characterized by a spirit of friendship and solidarity. He further observed that the experience and expertise acquired by both countries in many spheres over time could be shared for their mutual benefit. He emphasized the need to expand economic ties between the two countries.
The two sides highlighted the importance of the regular meetings of established bilateral mechanisms and high-level bilateral visits.
The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation in various sectors including political, economic, commerce, finance & banking, industry, public health, overseas employment, higher education, science & technology, information, culture & arts, agriculture & livestock and technical cooperation.
Both countries held fruitful discussions and agreed to work together for B2B interaction between businessmen of two sides, finalization of MoU between Trade Development Authority Pakistan and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority, cooperation for joint investment in the industrial sector and holding expert-level meetings of joint working groups in agriculture, Trade & Investment, labour and manpower, oil and gas sector and IT sector.
On the sidelines of JMC, an MoU between Bahrain Development Board (EDB) and the Board of Investment of Pakistan was also signed to promote bilateral investment between the two friendly countries.
Both sides resolved to implement the decisions reached during the 2nd Session expeditiously and finalize at the earliest, the MoUs/Agreements under consideration.
Both sides agreed in principle to hold the 3rd Meeting of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad in 2022.