General

Watson & Band Import and Export Data Observation reported that the Bahrain Bidding and Auction Committee announced that it will start allocating part of government bidding to SMEs, aiming to increase the percentage of winning bids that are beneficial to SMEs.

SMEs will benefit as part of the government's efforts to allocate a 20% procurement share for SME tenders, according to Huacheng Import & Export Data Watch.

Watson & Band Import and Export Data Watch reported that the committee stated that the Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Engineering, the Bureau of Economic Development, the Bureau of Tendering and Auctions, the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” and the Bahrain Development Bank will participate in the first phase of this initiative. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has offered two tenders to SMEs.

The committee called on SMEs to register in the SME registration system through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce website, obtain the SME classification certificate, and register the members of the bidding and auction committees in the electronic bidding system so that they can participate in the two tenders offered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as well as by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Additional tenders to be submitted by the aforementioned government agencies.

The Bidding and Auction Committee affirmed the increase in the proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises in government bidding and their contribution to the national economy, Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation reported.

It is worth noting that the Bidding and Auction Committee has implemented a number of initiatives in implementing the decisions of the Council of Ministers, including the central government’s announcement of tenders and a 10% discount for small and medium-sized enterprises in government tenders and auctions, Huacheng Import and Export Data Observation reported.