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Türkiye’s Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said Türkiye is prepared to expand its partnership with Bahrain through joint initiatives in renewable energy, defense industries, artificial intelligence, health tourism, and construction, citing aligned economic visions and complementary strengths.
Speaking at an event in Ankara celebrating Bahrain’s National Day, Simsek described the two countries’ ties as rooted in mutual trust, shared values, and a common long-term vision. He said Türkiye has been closely following Bahrain’s Vision 2030, a national development plan focused on diversifying the economy, fostering sustainable growth, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening human capital.
Simsek underscored the role of the Türkiye-Bahrain Joint Economic Commission (KEK), which he co-chairs, as a key mechanism for achieving concrete outcomes. "Our current cooperation mechanisms provide tangible, balanced, and mutually beneficial gains for both countries," he said.
The commission has already supported progress in trade, investment, health, agriculture, food security, logistics, and financial services. Simsek announced that the next KEK meeting—the commission’s eighth session—is planned for May 2026 in Ankara. "We look forward to the next meeting, which we believe will open the door to new cooperation opportunities," he added.
Simsek highlighted Türkiye’s diverse production capabilities, robust industrial infrastructure, innovative R&D environment, and skilled workforce as key advantages that make it a regional hub for manufacturing and investment. "Türkiye’s industrial capacity and Bahrain’s development goals complement each other," he noted.
Simsek recounted that Türkiye sees opportunities to jointly develop projects in several sectors. "We believe that we can establish joint ventures in renewable energy, defense industries, advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, tourism, health tourism, and construction," he explained.
Turning to regional integration, Simsek highlighted ongoing negotiations between Türkiye and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on a free trade agreement. He characterized the deal as a key milestone that could elevate economic engagement between Türkiye and Gulf countries. "We see the free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council as a strategic step," he said. "Once completed, it will deepen regional trade and take our economic partnership to a new level."
"With a medium- and long-term perspective, I sincerely believe that we will create lasting value and success stories for both countries," Simsek stated.
Bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Bahrain reached $363.56 million in 2024, with a trade deficit of $58 million in favor of the Gulf country, according to Turkish data.
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