ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
The headquarter of the Italy-Bahrain Business Council Association is located in Rome (RM) at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
It is apolitical, non-partisan and non-profit and will carry out its activities in compliance with the principles established by current national and international regulatory provisions.
Established with the aim of fostering cooperation and the development of Italy-Bahrain relations, it aims to forge closer ties with public institutions, large companies and SMEs, along with multinationals and financial groups, some of which are Founding Members and part of its Steering Committee.
Its goal is to initiate a long-standing ongoing dialogue between Italy and Bahrain in the fields of economy, culture and science while also representing and enhancing the Italian and Bahraini business sectors, which would be provided with institutional and commercial support when dealing with their counterparts.
The Association aims to develop its role as mediator and bridge between Italy and Bahrain, focusing its activities on promoting and supporting the internationalization path of Italian companies towards Bahrain and vice versa, supporting both Bahraini and Italian entities that choose to invest in their counterpart country and promoting mutually beneficial exchanges in the business domain.
Consistently with its mission, the Italy-Bahrain Business Council will promote the establishment of a public-private system to ensure an effective long-term strategy.
The Association uses its highly-valuable reputation ranking and its vast network to dialogue directly with Bahraini and Italian authorities, providing a marketing and networking platform for its Members and supporting the interests of Italian business.
EXECUTIVE BOARD 2021-2024
Mr. Ignazio Moncada
Co-Chairman
Message
Welcome to the official website of the Italy–Bahrain Business Council.
Born on October 19th, 2021 thanks to the joint initiative undertaken by the Ambassadors of the respective countries, Her Excellency Amb. Paola Amadei and His Excellency Amb. Dr. Nasser Al Belooshi under the auspices of their respective governments.
I was elected by the founding members, Italian and Bahraini, as Co-President together with Mr. Khalid Rashid Al Zayani.
The two countries enjoy excellent diplomatic relations and friendship; however, we believe that Italy and Bahrain still have the potential to further develop their industrial, financial and commercial relations.
This is the reason why the Business Council was established .
Italy should look at Bahrain not only as a basin for national products, which are indeed highly appreciated, but as a regional logistics, industrial and commercial hub.
On the other side, Bahrain should look to Italy as a country in which to invest and from which attract technologies by encouraging the establishment of Joint Ventures.
We hope that, through this initiative, we can create a mutually profitable community of dialogue. In this regard, we will work to organize events and targeted bilateral meetings with a view to fostering the achievement of our institutional objectives.
A virtual board, soon available, will give members the opportunity to express their own opinions and ideas. In the meantime, you are most welcome by writing to the addresses listed below.
Kind regards
Ignazio Moncada
Mr. Khalid Rashid Al Zayani
Co-Chairman
Message
Mr.Moncada’s message has covered so well the brief history of establishing our Business Council, so did messages of our honourable Ambassadors of Italy and Bahrain. There is no reason for me to repeat what has been well stated. However, I wish to refer briefly to investments made by Bahraini companies in Italy and what potential opportunities there are to be made. As a founder and Vice Chairman of Investcorp Bank, I am in a position to inform you that Investcorp has owned and invested in Italy in following Italian businesses;
- Dainese
- Corneliani
- Vivaticket
- Riva Yachts/Ferretti
- Gucci
Total transaction value of these investments is close of $ 1 billion. We have added to their values making them prosperous and successful companies. We hope that we, and other Bahraini investors, will do more of same in future too. There are many opportunities for Italian Investors in down streaming Bahraini prime industries of Aluminium, Petrochemicals and Iron. Due to high energy charges in Italy, rather than being forced to close their operations Italian industrial companies should surely consider moving fully or partially their operations to Bahrain, where they could relaunch their industrial might towards their customers throughout the world. As an example, in producing casted aluminium products in Bahrain, their savings in energy would be as high as 40%, if they received their metal in liquid form from Alba, the Bahrain Smelting Plant. Similar situations exist with Petrochemical and Iron industries too. Bahrain is a major centre for Islamic Banking. Islamic Banks in Bahrain could be a major financier of Italian infrastructure projects, as they have successfully contributed to UK and other world economies. This subject alone would justify a conference on its own to educate both Bahraini Islamic Banks and Italian local and central governments on the many simmering opportunities that exists for both.
I wish our council great success and hope that our members will take advantage in profitably joint venturing with each other for many years to come.
Kindest regards
Khalid Rashid Al Zayani
H.E. Paola Amadei
Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain
Message
It is a great pleasure for me to be able to be present at the takeoff of the activities of the Italy-Bahrain Business Council. It is the realization of a project in which I had the honor of collaborating with H.E. Dr. Naser Al Belooshi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Italian Republic and with the Co-Presidents, Mr. Ignazio Moncada and Mr. Khalid Rashid Al Zayani
Trade relations between Italy and Bahrain are excellent. A mutually beneficial partnership, in which trade is constantly growing, in both directions: in fact, both Italian exports to Bahrain and Bahrain’s exports to Italy are increasing.
In 2021, Italy achieved an important result, establishing itself as the top European exporting country to Bahrain and the ninth in the world. The high technology, the exceptional quality and the extraordinary beauty of the “Made in Italy” products are highly appreciated in the Kingdom: from machinery to agro-alimentary, from fashion, to furniture and design. Added to this are the opportunities that arise in many sectors, such as energy, renewables, infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and logistics. A very active Italian community is present in Bahrain and Italian companies are also involved in some of the major industrial projects.
The Business Council aims to strengthen the contacts between entrepreneurs, and to highlight business opportunities, which are certainly numerous, and thus contribute to further expanding the economic and commercial relations.
With the wish of fruitful collaborations and every success, I express my best wishes to the Italy-Bahrain Business Council.
Paola Amadei
Ambasador of the Republic of Italy to Bahrain
H.E. DR. Naser M.Y. Al Belooshi
Ambassador of Kingdom of Bahrain to the Italian Republic
Message
Dear all,
I am deeply honored to present the ‘Italy-Bahrain Business Council’. I would like to begin by thanking the Italian and Bahraini companies for their creativity, perseverance, and dedication in providing the best products and services. A special Thank you to Amb. Paola Amadei and Ignazio Moncada for working tirelessly to make the Council see the light.
Following the successful official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Italian Republic on February 2020, the Council has been created in light of our willingness to strengthen and deepen the bilateral trade relations between our two friendly countries.
Italy is the second industrial nation in Europe and a member of the G7 Group of the world’s largest economies and has a lot to offer: from sophisticated technologies to wonderful day products. Bahrain has its unique location and numerous economic and trade agreements globally that can play a vital role in the internationalization of Italian products. Our beloved Kingdom has positioned itself as financial and industrial hub in the Middle East region.
This is well demonstrated by the ‘Global Cities of the Future 2021/2022’ ranking that has been published by the Financial Times, in which Manama has secured the fifth spot overall for its Foreign Direct Investment strategy. In this respect, we are eager to bring the economic cooperation with Italy to a higher level, with a particular focus on advanced technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, as well as circular economy. Bahrain can easily facilitate such growth through the availability of white collar and blue-collar jobs, abundant manpower, reduced running cost of business, zero corporate taxes and a solid infrastructure that is built to facilitate business within the Kingdom.
Both nations will gain tremendously from such a union and are committed to fulfil the goals of the Council. We believe that this will be a platform for sustainable development, inclusive growth and joyous cultural exchange between our beloved nations.
Naser M.Y. Al Belooshi
Ambassador of Kingdom of Bahrain to the Republic of Italy
Ms. Lina Caltagirone
Secretary General
Mr. Marco Mancini
Treasurer
MISSION
- Develop initiatives with the aim of pursuing the objectives of the Associates;
- Establish a continuously updated news portal on the economic and financial indicators in Italy and Bahrain, with information on business sectors of interest;
- Putting forward proposals and recommendations for the development of the existing agreements and protocols and the signing of further agreements and protocols;
- Encourage the formation of new joint ventures and enterprises in Bahrain and Italy;
- Maintain a positive image of both Italy and Bahrain in the markets, and foster economic-cultural integration;
- Collaborate with government agencies and public administrations of both countries in order to promote regulations and measures for improving trade between Italy and Bahrain;
- Facilitate the settlement of economic disputes between operators, when arising from commercial transactions between the two countries;
- Organise and promote the organisation of events, round tables, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, luncheons, business missions, as well as other networking opportunities with the ultimate goal of exchanging information and know-how;
- Carry out info-sharing and advisory activities, particularly through the drafting of opinions, market analyses and reports by leading experts;
- Educational, cultural, training and professional exchange between the two countries for the benefit of the students of both public and private universities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Yasser Abdulrahim ALABBASI
President – Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC)
Ali Salman ALBAQALI
CEO – Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA)
Bader bin Rashid AL KHALIFA
Khalid Rashid Shaikh AL ZAYANI
President & Chairman – Khaled Al Zayani Family LLC
Abdulrahman A.Hussain JAWAHERI
Rishi KAPOOR
CEO – CO-CEO – Bahrain National Bank (NBB)
Lina CALTAGIRONE
International Relations Manager – FATA SPA
Leonardo CERCIELLO
Head of Asia & Africa Region – TELECOM ITALIA SPARKLE SPA
Hugo Patrick DOYLE
Head of International Public Affairs – INTESA SAN PAOLO
Alessandro MOTTA
Head of Public Affairs – SAIPEM SPA
Lapo PISTELLI
Director Public Affairs – ENI SPA
Andrea TOMAO
Defense Affairs & Internationalization – FINCANTIERI SPA