Bahrain calls for deeper GCC industrial integration to drive green growth

08/10/2026 07:13 AST

Bahrain's Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, has called for stronger industrial integration among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to build a more competitive, resilient and sustainable regional economy.

Speaking during the second panel discussion of the Made in GCC Forum and Exhibition 2026 at Exhibition World Bahrain, Dr. Bin Dainah joined ministers, officials and industrial decision-makers from across the region to discuss the future of green industries through regional integration.

The minister said closer cooperation between GCC countries is essential to transform the region's economic advantages into joint industrial partnerships and value-added projects.

He highlighted the importance of integrating manufacturing capabilities, economic zones, logistics infrastructure and private sector investment to strengthen the region's industrial base and competitiveness.

Dr. Bin Dainah also stressed the need to link and integrate supply and value chains across the GCC, describing regional cooperation as a strategic necessity for strengthening economic stability and expanding access to international markets.

Greater integration in energy and manufacturing, he said, would help retain more value within the region while creating high-quality jobs, investment opportunities and new areas for joint economic activity.

He urged GCC countries to adopt long-term strategic planning to improve their ability to respond to crises and geopolitical developments.

Global supply chain disruptions, he noted, could provide an opportunity to accelerate industrial localisation and strengthen mutual support among Gulf states.

Highlighting Bahrain's experience, the minister cited the Kingdom's investment in an LNG terminal as an example of infrastructure that provides an additional and secure option for maintaining energy supplies and meeting demand when required.

Dr. Bin Dainah also pointed to the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) as a successful example of strategic GCC cooperation.

The company is jointly owned by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) and Bapco Energies, demonstrating how regional resources, expertise and investment can be combined to develop competitive industrial ventures.

He further referred to a study examining the establishment of an aromatics plant using refinery outputs.

The proposed project forms part of efforts to strengthen manufacturing capabilities and expand downstream industries by creating greater value from existing resources.

According to Dr. Bin Dainah, such initiatives demonstrate an advanced level of GCC integration across petrochemical value chains, while highlighting the potential of shared resources and expertise to support strategic industrial projects and sustainable economic growth.

The minister also called for the launch of a unified GCC-wide recycling initiative to address industrial waste and promote the development of a circular economy.

He proposed treating industrial waste as "secondary resources" and leveraging the combined economic scale of GCC countries to attract major investments and advanced technologies in materials processing and recycling.

He concluded by stressing the importance of harmonising environmental standards across the GCC.

A unified regional approach, he said, would strengthen the readiness and competitiveness of Gulf industries as global environmental requirements increase and support the transition towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient industrial economy.

The discussions at the Made in GCC Forum highlighted the growing importance of regional cooperation in developing resilient supply chains, expanding value-added industries and positioning Gulf economies to capture new opportunities emerging from the global shift towards sustainability and green industrial development.

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