Bahrain will host an India Week next year to boost trade and investment between the two countries, a key project resulting from a partnership between India’s PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bahrain-based Al Hilal Group.

The two groups signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which  Al Hilal Group, one of the GCC’s leading media houses, will act as the regional representative office of PHD Chamber.

The MoU was signed at an event organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), a unit of Al Hilal Group, to present Best Stand Awards for companies that took part in the exhibitions organised by HCE.

It was signed by Al Hilal Group chairman Anwar Abdulrahman and PHD Chamber president Anil Khaitan.

PHD Chamber, established 1905, is a multi-state apex organisation in India and acts as a catalyst in the promotion of industry, trade and entrepreneurship.

Addressing the gathering, Abdulrahman said: “Futures of nations are not drafted by governments but individuals and the nations that expect everything to be given to them by the government will have very little voice or choice. Today it is the business leaders of the world that can change the world as an inch of enterprise is worth more than a mile of an estate,” he said.

He said Al Hilal remained committed to promoting Bahrain through its media and exhibitions. The MoU will result in India and Bahrain focused forums and exhibitions in the two countries, said Khaitan. There will also be a Bahrain Week hosted in India, he said.

The office will represent and promote the business interests of PHD members across the GCC and promote bilateral trade between India and the entire GCC region.

He said the MoU will help the PHD Chamber to tap into the opportunities available in the GCC, be it establishment of joint ventures, distributorships or technology transfer. The immense footprint of Al Hilal Group as a major media house opens the doors to us in a big way, he said.

The key areas the Chamber will look at initially are renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and construction sectors, he added.