Kanoo affirmed that reaching this stage follows a comprehensive process to develop the committee system, which began with reviewing the committees’ names and areas of jurisdiction, establishing criteria for selecting their chairs and members, opening nominations, and subsequently screening and evaluating applications and conducting interviews with candidates for chairmanship, culminating in presenting the nominations to the Board of Directors.
Kanoo stated that the Board of Directors views the sectoral committees as one of the key mechanisms for implementing its policies, programmes and directions, as well as an effective tool for engaging with the business community and identifying the needs and challenges of various sectors. He stressed that the focus on developing the committees stems from a commitment to enhancing their ability to provide perspectives, initiatives and practical solutions that serve the sectors they represent.
He noted that the nomination process witnessed significant interest from the business community, with 644 applicants seeking membership of the sectoral committees, compared with 350 applicants in the previous term, representing an increase of approximately 84%. This reflects the growing interest in participating in the committees’ work and contributing to discussions on issues and topics related to various economic sectors.
He explained that the new structure includes the establishment of two new committees: the Pearls, Gold and Jewellery Committee and the Old Markets Committee. This will enhance specialised representation of economic activities and sectors, while providing greater scope to address their needs and challenges and develop relevant initiatives and proposals.
He added that the phase following the approval of the new structure will focus on developing the committees’ objectives and work plans, ensuring that they are driven by the actual needs of the business community, aligned with the directions of the Board of Directors, and practical, measurable and implementable, while taking into account relevant economic changes and developments affecting each sector.
Kanoo emphasised that the current term will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of the committees, the quality of their outputs and the impact they achieve through regular monitoring and evaluation of performance and progress, as well as strengthening integration between the committees and the Board of Directors. This will contribute to translating the needs of the business community and sectoral challenges into practical recommendations and proposals that support the development of the business environment.
The Board of Directors affirmed that completing the formation of the committees marks the beginning of a new phase of sectoral engagement at Bahrain Chamber, founded on specialisation, clear priorities and measurable results. This will strengthen the committees’ role in representing the business community, serving various sectors and contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy.
