A BBMA delegation which visited Qatar between the 10th and 20th of December, 2004 to congratulate the Qatari Businessmen Association on the occasion of the formation of the association and the joining of the Arab Businessmen Union, concluded its visit with signing a protocol of mutual co-operation between the Bahraini and Qatari sides, The visit was very successful, which pleased the members of the delegation and encouraged them to work towards more economic co-operation with their counterparts in Qatar.

The delegation was received by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Qatar Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Faadhel, the Chairman and members of the Qatari Businessmen who welcomed the visiting delegation and organized meetings with a number of Qatari businessmen at luncheons and banquets as well as with a large number of senior government officials, leading businessmen and officials of the Association. They also had discussions with leading Qatari businessmen in the field of investment and on aspects of economic co-operation between the two sides for the benefit of the two countries and their citizens.

The visit was crowned by the audience given by His Highness sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister to the visiting Bahraini delegation whom he warmly welcomed, praised their visit to Qatar and directed the two sides to focus on studying specific projects to submit to the authorities in the two countries for implementation, hoping that economically feasible projects be identified and encouraged. The joint delegation also mentioned a number of ideas for various investments that His Highness the Prime Minister welcomed.

Furthermore, the delegation met with H.E. Abdulla Al Attiya, Second Deputy to the Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry who briefed them on approved projects that were going to be implemented, the effects that such projects would have on the Qatari society, the ways and extent that they could benefit the country and how investors and businessmen from Bahrain and other Gulf States could participate in them.

The Bahraini and Qatari sides signed a mutual co-operation protocol at a brief reception at the Association’s offices. The protocol was signed by BBMA Chairman Mr. Khalid Abdulrahman Almoayed for the Bahrain side and by Shaikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatari Businessmen Association, for the Qatari side.

It was agreed to work towards the establishment of a holding company to be owned equally by Bahrainis and Qataris, three members from each side were selected to submit a study and present suggestions, in addition to a joint board to comprise six members of each side and which shall hold two meetings every year alternately in the two countries.

The Qatari side accepted the invitation to visit Bahrain in the near future to follow up on what had been agreed upon in Doha.

The delegation’s program also include a field visit to Ras Lafan industrial area where they saw the recent industrial developments in Qatar followed by a visit to the marketing office of Pearl Investment Project where they were briefed on the project.