Bahrain and Japan have announced the signing of a number of agreements designed to promote economic co-operation and joint investment between the two countries.

Thirteen memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between ministries, organisations and private enterprises, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

The agreements cover sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education and training, oil and gas, and financial services amongst others.

The agreements were signed during a five-day state visit by a Bahraini delegation led by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB).

The delegation included representatives from the EDB, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Mumtalakat and the private sector.

"We are delighted at the success of the delegation's visit to Japan. Bahrain and Japan have long shared a profitable economic partnership and today's announcements pay testimony to the benefits that both our countries can gain from working together," Transportation Minister and EDB acting chief executive Kamal Ahmed said.

"We are very happy to announce such a wide range of economic agreements across a number of sectors that play an important role in both our economies. We look forward to developing these relationships in the future," BCCI chairman Dr Essam Fakhro said.

The MoUs included an agreement between Bahrain's Education Ministry and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for co-operation in education through research and exchange of information, academic staff, teachers and students.

Another agreement was signed between Bahrain's Education Ministry and Japan's National Diet Library for co-operation involving libraries, sources of knowledge and digital archiving.

Bahrain's Works Ministry and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism signed an agreement for consultation and co-operation in enhancing the management and development of sewage systems.

Also the EDB, Mumtalakat, Kinoshita Pearl, Japan International Co-operation Centre and First Stem Cell Japan signed an accord to promote and revitalise Bahrain's pearl industry.

Bahrain's National Oil and Gas Authority and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation signed an agreement for the development of human resources, technology and prospects in oil and gas.

SBI Pharmaceuticals signed separate agreements with Mumtalakat, Diwani Group Holding and Bahrain Development Bank.

An agreement involving Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB), and the Tokyo Institute of Technology was signed for collaboration between medical schools and life science engineering institutions .

RCSI-MUB signed an agreement for collaboration in clinical research with SBI Pharmaceuticals.

A clinical research collaboration (academic and scholarly exchange) agreement was signed between Arabian Gulf University and Juntendo University.

Arabian Gulf University and SBI Pharmaceuticals signed an agreement on first clinical study for diabetes. A cancer research collaboration agreement was signed between RCSI-MUB and Kochi University. – TradeArabia News Service