Mission

The Bahraini French Business Club was established in 2001 for business professionals with an ambition of building a strong relationship between Bahrain and France. Initiated by the Trade Commission of the French Embassy and a group of Bahraini Businessmen, the Club d’Affaires Franco Bahreinien (CAFB) is a non-profit local association under Bahraini law providing a platform where Bahraini and French business personnel and corporate houses can interact with and exchange effective trade, legal, business and cultural dialogues. The club boasts of nearly 140 members belonging to a wide spectrum of expertise within the economy and hosts monthly gatherings where top ranking businessmen, important decision makers and leading industry experts are invited as guest speakers. Some of the key personnel who have attended past gatherings include Dr Faisal bin Yaqoub Al Hammar - Minister of Health, Mr Fahmi Al Jawder-Minister of Works, Sh Mohamed Bin Essa Al Khalifa-CE of Economic Development Board, Dr Essam Fakhro - Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gert Rieder - CEO of Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) and Dr Mohammad Al Amer - Chairman of TRA. French businessmen and economists have also graced the meetings including the president of France’s largest union of employers, the Mouvement des Entreprises de France or MEDEF when he visited the island with a delegation on invitation by the French Embassy. Hence the CAFB becomes a vital tool for the French Embassy to reach its target to promote French businesses in Bahrain. Since its inception, the club has also been a role model for several other business associations in Bahrain.

The CAFB’s pride is its French Week which is organised every four years where Bahrain gets to witness the art, culture, cuisine and lifestyles of the French community. Businessmen, importers and retailers from France are encouraged to take part and showcase their products to the kingdom. The event which has taken place twice, in 2003 and 2007, attracted a huge response from the Bahraini and French community who actively participated in the week-long festival to promote France in Bahrain. Retailers of French products in malls, supermarkets and hotels, decorated their venues with flags and labels and enticed customers to special promotions and bargains. One time a street band was especially flown down from France and performed at various public venues giving the island’s residents a feel of the true French spirit. The event also held extravagant opening and closing ceremonies which were attended by high profile guests including ambassadors, top government officials as well as leading businessmen and corporate heads. The French Week is entirely sponsored by French and Bahraini companies based in the kingdom and will stage the next event between February 23 and March 1, 2011.

Objectives

The CAFB’s main aim is to promote and develop economical and commercial relations as well as social and cultural awareness between France and Bahrain. The club also aims to act as a forum for the exchange of information related to local business opportunities through regular meetings between French and Bahraini businessmen and women. Organising a series of activities, the club hopes to strengthen relations between the local French and Bahraini business communities. Alongside taking initiatives to promote Bahrain in France as the regional centre to conduct businesses, CAFB also helps highlighting the French business community in the kingdom.