Visiting the Gulf: Bahrain

I was delighted to start my visit to the Gulf in Bahrain. Collectively, the Gulf Cooperation Council is the UK’s 4th largest trading partner with trade worth £57bn. I met with high level officials and businesses to deepen our partnership in financial and professional services.

London’s expertise in fintech, green finance and insurance make it a natural partner of choice for the Gulf and opens up huge possibilities for closer collaboration in services to help the Gulf achieve their objectives of a diversified economy, financial inclusion and sustainable development.

Bahrain is a strategic gateway to the Gulf, and the UK’s financial expertise represents a partnership of immense value. I met with HE Khalid Humaidan, Governor of Central Bank of Bahrain, to discuss the two countries’ partnership. We spoke about the UK and Bahrain's digital economy partnership and shared commitment to building a dynamic and future-ready financial ecosystem. I also met with Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Commerce, H.E. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, to discuss how to deepen the UK and Bahrain's economic and financial partnership.

Bahrain’s private sector is investing £1bn in the UK through a strategic partnership deal, driving innovation in fintech, sustainable finance and economic growth. I was delighted to speak with the CEO of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company ("Mumtalakat"​) about the deal's transformative potential.