Australia keen on establishing regional food hub in Bahrain

By Nayla Barakat Manama, June 22 (BNA): Talks are underway to establish a regional food security hub in Bahrain, a top official of the Australia Bahrain Business Council (ABBC) has said. “There is an enormous potential to collaborate between the two countries to set up the Bahraini Australian Food Security Hub Office that will pave the way to set up production and processing plants in Bahrain,” Simon Harrison, Chairman Australia Bahrain Business Council, told the Bahrain News Agency. "In addition, it will open new era of jobs in logistic sector for the local and regional workforce." Simon was a member of the delegation on a three-day visit (June 19-21) to Manama for talks with the Economic Development Board and other entities, including in the private sector, to explore the opportunities of cooperation in food security and agriculture sector. “We feel that what we can establish a food security hub infrastructure in Bahrain in partnership with Australian companies which will cater for the food supplies of Bahrain and the region,” he said. “Australia is one of the major producers of wheat and grains and has been one of the major known suppliers of the food and grans. There is certainly a great cooperation between Australian production and expertise and the talents, abilities, and infrastructure in Bahrain and that has not explored earlier. So, I think for the first time in the relationship, both sides have set up the Business Council. That is the first one in the history of the relationship. "And those of us who know the Middle East, very well have had said for years, that this should be the market which Australia would be looking at. With the establishment of the business council, I have received more queries in the past 20 months than in the last 20 years of working in both countries,” he said. Harrison said they initially got very warm response from Australian companies keen on coming to Bahrain. "We are planning a major visit by November this year. We are working very closely with both public and private sectors to finalsie the necessary steps for the roadmap. We are also planning to hold a series of conferences and informative sessions for the prospective partners and stakeholders. Also, we will work closely with the various airports and seaports here for coordination and food supply chain,” he said. “A major part of the project is production and processing plants, and we are expecting huge response from logistic sector and other related sectors. We are holding talks with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the agricultural department of the ministries as well. Once get green signal to produce this roadmap, we can then get the whole thing moving forward quickly. “I proudly announce that we are the third largest business council in Australia since its inception two and half year ago. Australians are recognizing that Bahrain is the obvious partner for the whole region."