Bahraini industrialists have urged the government to promote locally-made products for free to stimulate the economy, reported the Gulf Daily News on Sunday.
The cahir of the Mashal Group, Yousif Mashal, who is also Bahrain Export Development Society chairman, said Bahrain's TV channels and other government-owned media should carry free advertisements on locally made products.
"Such a step is important to save Bahrain's industries and manufacturing units from competition posed by other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) giants," he told the paper.
Mashal added that a move initiated by the cabinet to support Bahrain Danish Dairy (BDD), was very encouraging.
BDD had complained that bigger Saudi dairy companies were dumping their surplus products in the small Bahrain market.
"The government cannot do anything to stop exports from other GCC countries to Bahrain, as we live in an open market," said Mashal. "Further more, Bahrain was one of the first countries in the region to become a World Trade Organization (WTO) member.
"Prior to opening up the market, we used to ask the government direct support in terms of subsidies on customs tariff and equipment."
Mashal said free promotion of national products through government-owned media would strengthen the capacity of national industries to compete effectively with their stronger GCC counterparts.
"The government should also set up a special promotion board for local industries, to help small firms to create their own product brand and image," he suggested.
"The government must put minimum quality specifications for all local and imported products, for which fully equipped laboratories should be set up.
"More than 80 percent of the products imported to Bahrain do not meet the minimum specifications to sell in a European country," he told the paper – Albawaba.com
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