Taiwan's trade mission in Bahrain has promised to launch a trade exhibition in the kingdom next year after the success of its first event in four years.

More than 500 Taiwanese companies provided brochures and information at a trade exhibition at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) headquarters in Sanabis.

The event, at Beit Al Tijjar's Pioneers Hall, was opened by BCCI chairman Dr Esam Fakhro, who said that every business in Bahrain appreciated the importance of Taiwan and the need to further improve and encourage trade between the two countries.

'I believe this event will be of great value both to Bahrain and Taiwanese businesses and I hope that it will improve trade ties further and encourage visits both from Bahrain to Taiwan and Taiwan to the kingdom,' said Dr Fakhro.

Prior to the opening, BCCI chief executive officer Ebrahim Ahmed Al Lengawi said that all members, merchants and business owners who attended this exhibition would be presented with opportunities for collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the trading of commodities and products.

'This is the first event of its kind that we have brought to Bahrain, but we are now looking to coming back next year and making this an annual event,'said Taiwan Trade Mission representative Paul Y F Hsu.

'Our exports to Bahrain are worth about $30 million, while we import products, largely oil-based and aluminium products, worth about $350 million but we have a lot more that we can offer the Bahrain market.'

'The main object of this show is to promote globally competitive Taiwanese products in Bahrain. There is bright potential for traders in Bahrain to benefit from bringing high quality Taiwanese products to this market.

'This event has been a convenient way for Bahrain buyers to save travelling time and the cost of visiting suppliers in Taiwan. Taiwan products across the entire spectrum of industry are of a very high standard and keenly priced in global terms.'

We are keen to work with local traders to see that they have access to our market and can offer these products here,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service