Manama: The launch of Business Licensing Integrated System (BLIS), a food manufacturing complex being built in Hidd with a new $90-million biscuit factory as its centrepiece, 96.4 per cent resolution of consumer disputes and Manama being declared the capital of Gulf Tourism 2016 are key achievements of the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry this year.
Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Al Zayani told local media during a lunch meeting at the Freej Bin Rashdan Restaurant in Dohat Arad Park yesterday that BLIS was launched on May 20 as a new online system that aims to reduce the time required to obtain commercial registrations (CRs) and business-associated
licences.
“Through BLIS, as many as 4,636 new CRs have been issued and 10,180 amendments have been made in existing CRs.”
The system is just one application of new and updated laws and procedures aimed at facilitating the issuance of CRs.
In a presentation, he said recommendations of the National Audit Office (NAO) on the performance of the Bahrain Investors Centre and the collection of outstanding debts have also been implemented. The Domestic Trade Directorate also ensured the issuance of the Commercial Registration Law and Commercial Companies Law.
The Foreign Trade Directorate arranged the visit of an Economic Delegation to Egypt to participate in the Economic Development Conference in Sharm El Sheikh during March on the sidelines of the visit of His Majesty King Hamad to Egypt.
It also participated in a meeting to review Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the WTO meeting in Nairobi, the minister added.
The directorate is actively seeking to get extension of the Tariff Preference Level for textiles in the framework
of the FTA.
The Consumer Protection Directorate received 530 complaints during the year, 96.4 per cent of which were resolved, with BD22,138 collected in favour of consumers with BD59,161 as value of goods replaced.
The directorate implemented nine field surveys and seized 95 shops, taking legal procedures against them.
It also granted 1,002 promotional campaign licences, 1944 discount licences for commercial shops and organised five consumer awareness campaigns and 43
awareness lectures.
Standardisation and Metrology Directorate completed the discussion updating the project of the Decree Law 16 of 1985 with the House of Representatives and was submitted to the Shura
Council.
As many as 3,638 standards and national technical regulations were adopted for various sectors such as food, mechanics, chemistry, construction materials, electrical appliances and others.
The Industrial Property Directorate completed 8,455 trademarks requests until November.
A new automated system for is being developed with aim to accelerate and facilitate the registration of trademarks
and patents.
The Precious Metals and Gem Testing Directorate carried out examination and marking of metals weighing nine tonnes, equivalent to an increase of 4pc when compared with the previous year.
Activity of the pearls and precious stones examination department until November saw an increase of 99pc from the same period
last year.
A new Private Pearl Testing labs law was also
issued.
The E-commerce Directorate launched an accounts system for industrial areas.
The Industrial Areas Directorate inaugurated the expansion of Mondelez in Salman Industrial City in Hidd on an area of 250,000 square meters with an initial investment $90 million.
The year also saw the launch of single window for clearing transactions at the Bahrain International Investment
Park.
Plot allocation was done for 34 industrial projects, six were cancelled, 52 rental leases were renewed.
The directorate reported approximately 6300 transactions in total and launched the Industrial Land Law.
The Industrial Projects Directorate carried out installation of the customs exemptions support system, studying and evaluating 135 requests to get customs exemption on
industry input.
As many as 116 factory got subsidies to the tune of BD39,134,057.
The Small and Craft Industries Directorate launched the SME toolkit project and continued organising industrial technical assistance programme for small and medium
enterprises.
The tourism sector saw Manama being declared as the capital of Gulf
Tourism 2016.
The classification of hotels and hotel apartments, organising of Arab Tourism Day, launch of Bahrain Food and Travel Awards and revival of old Manama Suq were also done.
The Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre held 66 events during the year with 1.8m square metres of space leased and total number of visitors adding up to 475,000, added the minister.
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