This came during Al Amin’s participation, representing the Bahrain Chamber, in a panel discussion at the 2nd GCC-France Business Forum held in Dubai, where he reviewed ways to enhance the resilience of GCC food supply chains and the importance of diversifying supply sources and adopting circular economy solutions to support the sustainability of the food sector and its ability to meet global challenges.
Al Amin explained that strengthening supply chain resilience begins with diversifying import sources and transport routes rather than relying on a single mode, noting the importance of including road transport and alternative GCC ports in contingency plans alongside sea and air freight, provided they are commercially viable and can be used when supply disruptions occur.
He called for greater regulatory coordination among GCC countries instead of imposing price controls, explaining that harmonizing procedures and facilitating cross-border road transport help boost competition and reduce logistics costs. He also highlighted the importance of developing customs capacity and expanding electronic pre-clearance, particularly for food products, whose costs are affected by delays at border crossings.
Al Amin stressed that its expansion must be based on economic viability, warning that heavy reliance on imported raw materials may shift supply chain risks rather than reduce them. He called for a balance between viable local production, diversified imports and reliable supply routes.
He reviewed Bahrain’s experience in dealing with rising freight, insurance and logistics costs, affirming that the response to these challenges was based on strengthening cooperation between the government and the private sector and seeking alternative suppliers and routes without compromising quality standards.
Al Amin highlighted Bahraini initiatives that make use of surplus food, including the Bahrain Food Bank and the Wajba platform, which offers surplus restaurant food at reduced prices, helping to reduce food waste.
He pointed to the importance of expanding the conversion of surplus food that cannot be redistributed into local production inputs, such as animal feed and fertilizers, to improve resource efficiency, reduce food waste and help build a more resilient and sustainable GCC food system.
