The host of the first China Overseas Investment Fair (COIF) officially invited the Bahrain General Organization of Sea Ports to participate in the fair that will convene in China World Trade Center in Beijing on November 3-4.

Senior officials of the Bahrain General Organization of Sea Ports are discussing possible cooperation with a Chinese delegate. [China.org.cn]

Invited to meet by arrangement of the Bahrain Trade Office in China, the COIF host and the Bahrain General Organization of Sea Ports had a pleasant discussion about possible bilateral cooperation in the future. Bahrain Trade Office told China.org.cn that both sides wanted and needed such a platform for extended communication and consultation on future mutually-beneficial economic cooperation.

"The COIF is hosted by the China Industrial Overseas Development & Planning Association with the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission and the endorsement of relevant ministries and commissions of State Council," said Fan Chunyong, vice chairman and secretary-general of the association.

"High-profile Chinese government officials, foreign government officials, international industrial and commercial leaders and well-known economists will be invited to attend," he added.

"Located at the heart of the Gulf, Bahrain is a liberal and progressive business destination. We would like to conduct more cooperation with Bahrain to further bilateral economic development," said Fan.

Mr. Bader H. Al Mahmood, head of Ports Operations & Regulations, said that to date his organisation does not have any close cooperation with the Chinese side, but they do want to promote links with Chinese investors and business circles.

He said that their new Khalifa Bin Salman Port and its adjacent industrial area is located towards the North Eastern extremity of Bahrain, five kilometers from Bahrain International Airport, and is part of an extensive development program of more than 800 hectares of land.

Bahrain state port officials pose for photo with Chinese buyer David Zhang [China.org.cn]

This new facility will ensure an excellent level of services to the shipping lines, he said, adding that the port has a strategic location that is efficient and offers easy access to the upper Gulf markets through a fast, low-cost feeder network.

Captain A. Hussain M. Abdulla, head of Maritime Safety & Environmental Protection, explained that currently the port is equipped with four Post Panamax cranes with an 18 meter outreach, 900 meters of quay wall, a depth in the channel of 12.8 meters and total yard capacity of 35,500 Teu. The port currently has the capacity to handle 400,000 transshipment moves per annum. There are further plans to dredge the channel to 14 meters by the end of 2009, and an additional one meter thereafter. This will then enable vessels up to a maximum draft of 15 meters to berth, he added.

Mr. Bassam Ali Ameen, head of Business Development of the Bahrain Logistics Zone, went on to explain that their zone ranked second in the Middle East in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index.

Trucks waiting for enter the export processing region [China.org.cn]

He said their logistics zone was located on reclaimed land at the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port, 10 minutes from Bahrain International Airport and 25 minutes from the King Fahad Causeway to the Kingdom of Saudi Arab. They focused on re-export and value-adding logistics activities from local and international companies.

The China Overseas Investment Fair (COIF) is the first authoritative and professional exhibition for China overseas investment cooperation. The host will invite participation from a wide range of domestic and foreign government investment promotion agencies; international and regional economic organizations; foreign associations and chambers of commerce; Fortune 500 companies; eminent financial institutions; service agencies; large scale Chinese state-owned and private enterprises, and appropriate small and medium-sized enterprises.

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing and Maverick Chen May 27, 2009)