Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the U.S. launch of Bahrain’s new U.S. Trade Zone.

And thank you to His Excellency Minister Al Zayani and His Excellency Khalid Humaidan for traveling to America to speak to our companies about the opportunities that the USTZ will open for those operating in the Gulf.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a vital strategic and trade partner of the United States and an essential force in maintaining stability and ensuring the free flow of commerce in the Gulf.

It is my pleasure to be here today to reaffirm the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to our partnership with the Kingdom. We are grateful for your collaboration on an array of bilateral, regional, and global issues.

The USTZ will enhance trade and investment between our two countries, building on our Free Trade Agreement to further deepen economic and industrial cooperation.

It will allow U.S. businesses multimodal access to an area ideal for crossdocking activities, end-to-end specialized customs solutions, and fast track operation for the purpose of exporting via Khalifa bin Salman Port, Bahrain International Airport, King Fahad Causeway, and any future customs posts created by the Kingdom.

I applaud Bahrain’s initiative and ambition in proposing the USTZ, and, more importantly, in making it a reality.

And I congratulate you on the foundation stone-laying ceremony in which Minister al Zayani and U.S. Ambassador Bondy participated on February 20, in Salman Industrial City.

We look forward to doing our part to help promote the USTZ as a regional trade, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution hub for U.S. companies in Bahrain, markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and beyond.

Of course, the USTZ is just one of the many ways in which the Department of Commerce is partnering with the Kingdom to advance our bilateral economic relationship.

The Commercial Law Development Program is also active in Bahrain, working on insolvency, mediation, and bankruptcy, as well as teaming with our Patent and Trademark Office on intellectual property issues, such as filing patents in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

And I am pleased to announce that Commerce will lead an aerospace and defense trade mission to Bahrain (and to Saudi Arabia and Israel) in November 2022.

From expanding trade opportunities to capacity building and the new USTZ, our ties will only strengthen as we move forward together, and the Commerce Department is eager to play our part in advancing the relationship.

Congratulations again on the launch of the USTZ. I look forward seeing the results of this innovative effort.

Thank you.