5 days ago
Bahrain pitches AI Supply Chain plan to UK Titans
TDT| Manama
Bahrain is stepping up efforts to position itself as a next-generation logistics and manufacturing hub, spotlighting artificial intelligence, regulatory agility, and location advantages in high-level discussions with UK industry leaders.
During a two-panel event hosted in collaboration with Financial Times Live in London, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) made a strategic pitch to British investors, framing Bahrain as an emerging centre for AI-powered, sustainable, and cost-efficient supply chains. The panels, held under the theme 'Shaping the Next Generation of Manufacturing and Logistics Hubs', brought together top executives from major UK firms in automotive, ports, technology, and advanced manufacturing.
AI and access
The discussions focused on two core trends disrupting global logistics: the rise of AI in supply chain operations and the geographic shift of hubs closer to critical resources and consumer markets. Officials from Bahrain emphasised that the island nation's simplified regulations, mature digital infrastructure, and direct access to Gulf markets offer a compelling case for companies seeking alternatives to overstretched or cost-heavy supply routes.
Ali AlMudaifa, Chief of Business Development at Bahrain EDB, and Ahmed Sultan, Executive Director for Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics, joined a panel that also featured Geraint Evans, CEO of UK Major Ports Group. Together, they examined how tariff shifts and sustainability pressures are driving a re-evaluation of traditional logistics corridors.
Industry voices weigh in
The first panel included Steven Armstrong, Chair of Morgan Motor Company, Lina Huertas from Microsoft UK, and Riddhi Karambelkar of Brompton Bicycle. They explored trends like time-to-market acceleration and cost-effective manufacturing consolidation. Microsoft's Huertas discussed how digital twins and predictive analytics are reshaping factory floor decisions, while Armstrong highlighted the need for closer proximity between manufacturing sites and emerging markets.
Moderated by Financial Times' Benjamin Parkin, the sessions also included insights from Bahrain's Minister of Sustainable Development and EDB Chief Executive, H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, who underscored Bahrain's commitment to sustainable industrial growth.
Future-ready vision
The event was part of a broader visit by Bahrain's EDB to the United Kingdom, aimed at strengthening bilateral investment ties and showcasing Bahrain's readiness to accommodate next-gen industrial ecosystems. As companies seek resilience and operational efficiency amid mounting global pressures, Bahrain's leadership is betting on digital innovation and geographic agility to turn the Kingdom into a regional command centre for manufacturing and logistics.
Bahrain's pitch in London marks a calculated move to attract firms rethinking their global supply chain architecture.
