The meeting focused on reviewing financial and administrative reports, making decisions to support the private sector, and enhancing its role in the national economy, all within an environment prioritising transparency and effective participation in economic and commercial discussions.
The assembly ratified the minutes from the April 28, 2024, general assembly meeting, approved the annual report for 2024, and endorsed the financial situation and the external auditor's report for the same fiscal year. It also accepted the board of directors' recommendation to appoint BDO as the external auditor for the fiscal year 2025 and authorised the board to negotiate and finalise the contract.
Under the "Any Other Business" agenda item, the assembly approved the amendment of Article (26) of Decree Law No. (48) of 2012 and Article (30) of its executive regulations, authorising the board to work with the relevant authorities to amend the Chamber law and its regulations. This would allow members to choose the chairman from within their ranks.
In his speech, Mr Nass highlighted the chamber's achievements over the past year, noting the acceleration of development activities and events. He explained the chamber's commitment to providing top-tier services to its members, aiming for greater success through collaboration with them, aligned with Bahrain's economic trends. Mr Nass emphasised the chamber's role as the key representative of the business community, working to develop strategic partnerships, launch initiatives, and offer innovative solutions to economic challenges.
Mr Nass expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continuous support of the private sector. He pointed out the ongoing communication between the chamber and the leadership, with regular meetings to discuss ways to enhance the investment environment and boost the competitiveness of Bahrain's economy, highlighting the importance of the private sector in realizing the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, which focuses on sustainable development and competitiveness.
On internal matters, Mr Nass outlined the chamber's implementation of its strategic plan, which included launching 22 initiatives to support the business environment, stimulate investment, and provide guidance on economic legislation, such as amendments to social security laws to protect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from excessive financial burdens. The chamber also advocated for updates to check laws to stabilise financial transactions.
One of the major initiatives highlighted was the chamber's third annual conference for permanent committees, themed "Towards an Economic Environment that Stimulates Growth and Investment." This event gathered renowned economic experts and business leaders to discuss economic challenges and propose solutions to boost investment and Bahrain's competitiveness regionally and internationally. This conference significantly strengthened communication and cooperation among national economic sectors.
Further collaborations with government entities were also emphasized. Nass explained that the chamber had solidified its strategic partnerships with ministries, held regular meetings with the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, and launched the 'Premium Support Path' programme to offer legal and economic consultations to business owners. The chamber also facilitated the transition to green technology for startups through incentive programmes and proposed the establishment of a 'Unified Gulf Trade Observatory' in partnership with the GCC.
In addition, the chamber continued to develop training platforms like the 'Experience it' programme, aimed at helping Bahraini youth gain practical experience in the labour market and explore various economic sectors, ultimately preparing them for competitive job opportunities.
Mr Nass praised the chamber's members for their vital role in these accomplishments, stressing that their support and active participation were crucial to the realisation of these successes.
He noted that business leaders fully understand their national responsibilities and are committed to contributing to Bahrain's sustainable economic development and achieving the goals of the Vision 2030. The chamber has consistently worked to enhance its role as a knowledge-based hub supporting decision-makers and business owners, preparing analytical studies and issuing quarterly reports to monitor economic performance.
In 2024, the chamber organised over 85 specialised economic events, including conferences, seminars, and workshops, which offered opportunities for dialogue among traders and policymakers. It also signed six memoranda of understanding with prominent global institutions to enhance legal and commercial partnerships, further boosting Bahrain's status as a commercial and investment hub. In addition, the chamber held over 330 economic meetings to strengthen connections between the Bahraini business community and its regional and international counterparts.
Looking forward, Mr Nass reaffirmed the chamber's commitment to supporting the private sector and enhancing Bahrain's regional and international standing, noting that in 2024, the chamber had chaired the Arab Chamber of Commerce and signed cooperation agreements with esteemed international organisations, including the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the chamber's first vice chairman Khalid Najibi, chaired the meeting on behalf of Mr Nass. During the meeting, he announced that the chamber received, on March 27, 2025, a written request signed by 69 members of the General Assembly, requesting the inclusion of the amendment of Article (26) of Decree Law No. (48) of 2012 and Article (30) of the executive regulation of the same decree in the agenda of the General Assembly under the item "Any Other Business."
Mr Najibi explained that the chamber's Customer Service Department reviewed the request and verified that it met the legal requirements. It was found that 57 of the signatories met the criteria set out in Article (15) of Decree Law No. (48) of 2012, which allows for the inclusion of items not listed on the agenda based on a written and justified request from at least fifty members submitted at least two business days prior to the meeting.
Mr Najibi confirmed that based on the request meeting the requirements, the issue was included on the agenda for discussion in the General Assembly, supported by several justifications, the most prominent of which was: "Enhancing the flexibility of commercial work by enabling the General Assembly, as the highest authority, to choose its representatives more broadly and allowing elected board members to choose the chairman from among them, similar to what is practiced in civil society institutions and the Shura and Council of Representatives, without a ceiling limiting private sector options."