I. Headlines:
· “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are Inseparable,” HM the King affirms.
· BFX Futures market trading turnover reaches $3.68b.
· Bahrain steel giant ropes in Tata Consultancy.
· Further Bahraini-Russian exchange in the field of Human Rights.
II. Political:
“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are Inseparable,” HM the King affirms.
HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday highlighted that the strong bonds between Bahrain and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and said that both nations are one and can’t be separated.King Hamad said that upon receiving at Al-Safriya Palace Prince Al-Walid bin Talal on the occasion of his visit to Bahrain. “Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are one and in separable country,” HM King categorically stated.
In tribute to his substantial economic role as well as his social and philanthropic activities and contributions to boosting the role of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the economic, media and cultural fields regionally and internationally, HM King Hamad bestowed on Prince Al-Walid bin Talal Bahrain First-Class Medal.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
BFX Futures market trading turnover reaches $3.68b.
The cumulative (single-side) trading turnover on the BFX Futures market increased to $3.68 billion with a trading volume of 77,076 contracts during the first six months since its launch on the 23rd of November 2011. The Bahrain Financial Exchange or the BFX, which is the first multi-asset international financial exchange in the MENA region, proudly announced the successful completion of six months of trading on the BFX Futures markets with the cumulative (single-side) trading turnover on the BFX Futures increasing to $ 3.68 billion (for the period between 23rd Nov 2011 and 25th May 2012) – the cumulative trading volume reaching 77,076 contracts. The highest (single-side) daily trading turnover was $224.74 million, with a trading volume of 4,535 contracts achieved on the 16th of May 2012.
Bahrain steel giant ropes in Tata Consultancy.
The region’s first fully integrated steel sections and beams producer, SULB, said it has signed up Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for the implementation of SAP software and business warehousing solutions at its mill. SULB is a joint venture between Bahrain-based Gulf United Steel Holding Company (Foulath), a leading steel investment and holding company in the Middle East (with 51 per cent) and Japan's Yamato Kogyo, a leading global sections and beams producer (with 49 per cent). SAP will be implemented for finance/costing, materials management, sales and distribution, production planning, quality management, plant maintenance and HR/payroll along with SAP’s business intelligence tools, said a statement from SULB.
Bahrain celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the CFA Programme with Opening of Bahrain Bourse.
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, which is a global association for investment professionals, celebrated 50 years of its program by hosting a joint opening ceremony with the Bahrain Bourse (BHB) yesterday. Joining over 20 other cities including London, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Singapore, Bahrain will be part of a series of events happening in major financial centres around the world, representing the greatest number of stock exchanges to be opened or closed by one organization in a single day. The ceremonies set the stage for this weekend for more than 149,000 registered candidates from 168 countries will take the Level I, II and III CFA exams on June 2 and 3. This includes an estimated 3570 candidates from the Middle East who will be taking exams in Bahrain as well as in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha and Beirut.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism:
BTI ready to train 520 National Diploma graduates.
The Bahrain Training Institute (BTI) announced that it is ready to launch its “field training” program for training of 520 graduates from the National Diploma and Vocational Diploma programs for the year 2011/2012. Out of the total number of 520 graduates 240 that is 46% are males meanwhile 280 that is 54% are females. The training program is scheduled to start in July 2012 for training of these graduates in private sector organizations and government ministries and authorities. According to the head of Graduates Recruitment Center Mohammed Hassan Shahin, Bahrain Training Institute extends bridges of cooperation with various sectors and that training alone cannot succeed aloof from the labor market which is the best place where the skills of graduates from technical colleges and institutions should be brushed up.
V. Other News:
Further Bahraini-Russian exchange in the field of Human Rights.
The Minister of State for Human Rights Affairs Dr. Salah bin Ali Abdulrahman received yesterdat the Russian Ambassador Victor Smirnov and stressed strong decades-long relations bonding the Kingdom of Bahrain and Russia. Dr. Salah hailed Russian stance in support of Bahrain’s reform process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and extended his good wishes to Bahrain’s Government and people. Both sides stressed on the crucial need to exchange expertise in the field of human rights.
VI. Photo of the Day:
* From Aa’ali Village, Haji Yusuf and the art of Pottery making. 29th May 2012, Al-Wasat.
Issued by:
Embassy of Malaysia
MANAMA,
30th May 2012