Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahraini Ambassador to Britain, hosted the annual dinner ceremony for the Friends of Bahrain Society in the United Kingdom, which was established in 1965.
Earl of Minto, Minister of State at the British Department for Business and Trade, Khalid Rashid Al Zayani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the British Chamber of Commerce Bahrain, several members of the British House of Commons and House of Lords, senior officials from the British Home Office and Defence Ministry, in addition to 100 members of the Friends of Bahrain Society in the United Kingdom, attended the ceremony.
Heather Harper, Chairperson of the Bahrain Society in the UK, delivered a statement in which she expressed the pride of the Friends of Bahrain Society in His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s care, affirming the depth of the long-standing relations between the two kingdoms.
She appreciated the hospitality and warm welcome accorded to the members of the Friends of Bahrain Society during their presence in the Kingdom.
Lynn Collins, who has lived in Bahrain since the 1950s, also addressed the ceremony. She expressed deepest thanks and appreciation to the kingdom, noting that the Friends of Bahrain Society aims to strengthen friendship ties between the two countries and their peoples.
Earl of Minto, in his speech, lauded the success of the recent official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United Kingdom, during which the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on a Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership.
The Minister of State at the British Department for Business and Trade, highlighted the role played by the Friends of Bahrain Society in strengthening friendship ties between the two countries, affirming that trade exchange between the two countries reached a historical record this year.
He added that the ongoing Free Trade Agreement between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries would contribute to enhancing the robust strategic, economic and trade relations between the two kingdoms.
Khalid Rashid Al Zayani, while addressing the annual dinner ceremony, affirmed the unique and distinguished nature of the Bahraini-British relations as a result of their deep-rooted bonds.
He valued highly the efforts exerted by the Friends of Bahrain Society to strengthen bilateral ties, stressing the role of businessmen in the two countries in creating new investment opportunities that build on their joint achievements in various sectors and industries.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
