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Bahrain Strengthens Economic Ties with China, Signs 8 Landmark MoUs

Bahrain Strengthens Economic Ties with China, Signs 8 Landmark MoUs
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Bahrain Strengthens Economic Ties with China, Signs 8 Landmark MoUs

Bahrain Strengthens Economic Ties with China, Signs 8 Landmark MoUs

A senior delegation from Bahrain led by the Capital Governor Sheikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa and organized by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) concluded its visit to Shenzhen, China, by signing eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Bahraini delegation met with Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Ai Xuefeng, and a number of local government officials and business leaders at the Bahrain – Shenzhen Business Forum and the China High-Tech Fair.

An MOU between EDB and the artificial intelligence (AI) firm, Intellifusion Technologies was signed to advance AI dynamic portrait recognition that can benefit China, Bahrain, and the Middle East.

EDB partnered with Shenzhen FinTech company to establish a full mobile payment gateway in Bahrain and explore opportunities in crypto-currency, in addition to the possibility of initiating FinTech Funds.

An MOU between EDB and Shenzhen Outbound Alliance aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, information exchange, and establishing a regular communication channel for business information, and investment opportunities.

In addition, the delegation signed a memorandum with Softbank China Capital – Wonder News aiming to encourage Softbank China Capital and their investment portfolio companies to establish a presence in Bahrain and use it as a regional hub to cover the Middle East.

EDB and 4PX signed an MOU exploring the possibility of 4PX initiating and establishing funds together with Bahraini companies in order to invest in entrepreneurship in both countries.

EDB and Shenzhen Cool-hi Network Culture Technology partnered to promote the development of E-sports between the Middle East and China including hosting E-sports events.

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) signed an MOU with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shenzhen Branch (CCPITSZ) to harness and enhance collaborative initiatives to promote trade and investments between the two countries.

After that, EDB also established an MOU with CCPITSZ to enhance collaborative initiatives between Bahrain and Shenzhen, strengthening information exchange and cooperation in economic and business activities.

Al Khalifa explained that the partnership with Shenzhen was built on common heritage as open and innovative business hubs with shared economic interests.

“We are very pleased to see our ties with this vibrant city continue to strengthen and believe these agreements will help us move towards a new era of collaboration,” he asserted.

Chief Executive of EDB Khalid al-Rumaihi also commented on the matter saying that Shenzhen is the first city with which Bahrain established a friendship city agreement in China.

He indicated that there are numerous opportunities for Chinese companies in the region, especially as the GCC markets continue to transform their economies.

“Bahrain’s location as the Gateway to the Gulf, and given the fact that it is one of the key countries along the new Belt and Road route, along with our open and liberal lifestyle, competitive business landscape, and world-class regulation makes the Kingdom the ideal location from which Chinese companies can access this $1.5 trillion GCC market,” concluded Rumaihi.

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Business

China Widens Foreign Investment Incentive List to Stem Falling Inflows

People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
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China Widens Foreign Investment Incentive List to Stem Falling Inflows

People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)

China on Wednesday listed more sectors eligible for foreign investment incentives, from tax breaks to preferential ​land use, in its latest effort to stem a prolonged decline in overseas capital inflows.

Under the 2025 edition of the catalogue of industries for encouraging foreign investment, China added more than 200 and revised about 300, with a ‌focus on ‌advanced manufacturing, modern services and ‌green ⁠and ​high-tech ‌sectors, the list jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the commerce ministry showed.

The new catalogue, which takes effect on February 1, 2026, replaces the 2022 version and continues a policy framework ⁠that offers foreign-invested enterprises tariff exemptions on imported equipment, preferential ‌land pricing, reduced corporate income ‍tax rates in ‍designated regions and tax credits for reinvestment ‍of profits.

The catalogue also extends incentives to central and western regions, as well as the northeast and Hainan, as Beijing seeks to attract ​more foreign investment into less developed areas.

China has in recent months ⁠taken a raft of measures to boost foreign investment, including pilot programs in Beijing, Shanghai and other regions to expand market access in services such as telecoms, healthcare and education, amid trade tensions with the United States.

Foreign direct investment in China totaled 693.2 billion yuan ($98.84 billion) from January to November this year, down 7.5% from the ‌same period last year, data from the commerce ministry showed.

Business

Environment Ministry Launches Saudi Citrus Season with Production Exceeding 158,000 Tons

The citrus production season in the Kingdom begins in July and continues through March each year. (SPA)
The citrus production season in the Kingdom begins in July and continues through March each year. (SPA)
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Environment Ministry Launches Saudi Citrus Season with Production Exceeding 158,000 Tons

The citrus production season in the Kingdom begins in July and continues through March each year. (SPA)
The citrus production season in the Kingdom begins in July and continues through March each year. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched on Wednesday the Kingdom’s citrus season in local markets as part of its efforts to support and develop the agricultural sector and enhance food security in the country, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

The is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to support national agricultural products, raise awareness of citrus varieties and their nutritional benefits and production areas, and highlight their year-round diversity across production seasons.

These efforts help in improving marketing efficiency, boost competitiveness, and achieve rewarding economic returns.

Citrus fruits are among the most widely cultivated crops in the Kingdom. They are grown in several regions that produce a variety of citrus types, most notably lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, citron, and kumquats.

The ministry said lemon production leads Saudi citrus output, with total production exceeding 123,000 tons and more than 1.5 million fruit-bearing trees. Orange production follows, with total output reaching 35,700 tons and more than 397,000 fruit-bearing trees.

The citrus production season in the Kingdom begins in July and continues through March each year, it added.

The ministry said the Saudi citrus season has been launched with a number of major retail markets across the Kingdom showcasing local products through innovative packaging and display methods. This boosts the quality and reliability of local products and increases consumer demand during production seasons.

Business

SLB Awarded 5-Year Contract to Stimulate Unconventional Gas in Saudi Arabia

SLB has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SLB has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SLB Awarded 5-Year Contract to Stimulate Unconventional Gas in Saudi Arabia

SLB has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SLB has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Global technology company, SLB, has been awarded a five-year contract by Saudi Aramco to provide stimulation services for its unconventional gas fields, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The move is part of a broader multi-billion contract, supporting one of the largest unconventional gas development programs globally, it said.

The contract encompasses advanced stimulation, well intervention, frac automation, and digital solutions, which are important to unlocking the potential of Saudi Arabia’s unconventional gas resources - a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and support the global energy transition.

“This agreement is an important step forward in Aramco’s efforts to diversify its energy portfolio in line with Vision 2030 and energy transition goals,” said Steve Gassen, SLB executive vice president.

“With world-class technology, deep local expertise, and a proven track record in safety and service quality, SLB is well positioned to deliver tailored solutions that could help redefine operational performance in the development of Saudi Arabia’s unconventional resources,” he added.

These solutions provide the tools to work toward new performance benchmarks in unconventional gas development.

SLB is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet.

With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, it works on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition.