LONDON: Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad engaged in a momentous encounter with Prince William at Windsor Castle on Tuesday during his official visit to the United Kingdom, where he extolled the enduring relationship between the two nations spanning over two centuries.
The crown prince conveyed warm regards from King Hamad to King Charles III and the Prince of Wales, according to Bahrain News Agency.
Prince Salman started his two-day visit on Monday and expressed his satisfaction with the growing collaboration between the two kingdoms. He lauded the noteworthy advancements and progress achieved, which are underpinned by profound and robust bilateral relations.
Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of persistently propelling these relations towards their desired objectives.
During his stay, Prince Salman also held discussions with James Cleverly, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to deliberate upon regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Earlier, on Saturday, the crown prince graced a business reception organized by Nicholas Lyons, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, in conjunction with Kemi Badenoch, the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in collaboration with prominent British enterprises.
Prince Salman emphatically highlighted the unwavering determination and dedication of Team Bahrain in attaining the nation’s wide-ranging economic and investment goals by bolstering existing global partnerships. He commended the efforts of the Bahrain Economic Development Board in attracting investments that contribute to diversifying the country’s economy and generating high-quality opportunities for its citizens.
Furthermore, the crown prince participated in a ceremony where several agreements were signed, including a significant deal between Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, and Badenoch. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding pertaining to biodiversity and marine pollution was inked between Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Tim Green, the Deputy CEO of the Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.
Other agreements entailed facilitating internships for Bahrainis in Britain, signed by Rasheed Mohamed Al-Maraj, the governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and Alastair King, the chairman of Naisbitt King Group. Moreover, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance and the London Institute of Banking and Finance sealed an agreement on training and education, with the signatures of Dr Ahmed Abdul Hameed Abdul Ghani Al-Shaikh, the CEO of BIBF, and Alex Fraser, the CEO of LIBF.
Notably, the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones “Danat” signed a pact in the UK to launch services for testing pearls and precious gemstones. Noura Jamsheer, the CEO of Danat, and Charles Frederick Richard Turner, the managing director of MALCA-AMIT, were the signatories of this agreement.
In addition, an agreement was reached between SICO Bank’s CEO, Najla Al-Shirawi, and Teresa Parker, the Executive Vice President and President of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Northern Trust, regarding the provision of financial asset management services and investment opportunities.
During the visit, several significant announcements were also made, including the designation of the UK as an authorized partner of the Global Center for Maritime and Air Cargo Services. Additionally, the establishment of a British company specializing in insurance brokerage services was announced, along with the creation of a regional services hub for PwC Middle East, which is expected to generate 250 employment opportunities. Moreover, the two nations unveiled plans to launch a financial technology project studio in Bahrain and establish an investment platform for managing student housing assets in the UK.
During his speech, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa, the finance minister, underscored the burgeoning ties between Bahrain and the UK. He emphasized the vital role played by the UK-GCC Free.
