His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, last night said his visit to the south Indian state of Kerala had been very successful.

"We all have to ensure we take the achievements forward and build on them," the Crown Prince said while speaking to businessmen and media personnel accompanying his delegation.

He also spoke of the tremendous contribution of the Indian, and particularly the Keralite community, in Bahrain and said they could not be thanked enough for what they had done, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

During the ceremony, Bahraini business representatives met their Indian counterparts and discussed ways to foster co-operation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

One of Bahrain's earliest business communities is to set up JV with Indian firms based in Kerala.

The Thattai Hindu Mercantile Community (THMC) is already in talks with business houses on major projects concerning solar energy and construction equipment, said its general secretary Manoj Bhatia.

Bhatia, who is also Nariana Holding Company group chairman, said many Kerala businessmen had also expressed a desire to invest in joint ventures in Bahrain.

"The THMC has more than 70 members who are all well-known businessman in Bahrain," he said.

"Being the pioneering business community in Bahrain, we have the experience and the expertise to make any joint venture a success," he added.

He said HRH Prince Salman had expressed a strong desire for Bahraini companies to build strong business relations with Indian companies during his trip to India a year ago.

"His visit to Kerala now is going further on that directive," he said.

"Bahrain is very serious about furthering relations with India and this visit will be a good step in that direction," he added.-TradeArabia News Service