Israel’s ambassador to Bahrain, Eitan Naeh, said in an interview with the newspaper the days Bahrain, published on Sunday, said that his country began buying aluminum from Manama.
Naeya added, “We have already started buying aluminum from Bahrain, and I am sure that this aspect will witness a growth in purchase rates.”
Aluminum Bahrain is one of the largest aluminum producers in the Middle East. But the ambassador did not disclose the value or volume of exports to his country.
Naeh was appointed as the first Israeli ambassador to Bahrain in 2021, a year following the two countries agreed to normalize relations.
Naeh added that the Israeli El Al airline will launch flights to Bahrain soon, according to the newspaper.
Gulf Air, the Bahraini national carrier, had announced the launch of direct flights to Tel Aviv.
The ambassador also said that in the near future, a maritime-air transport agreement will be launched, which will allow the transfer of goods from ships docked in Bahrain to planes bound for Israel.
He pointed out that “during the visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to Bahrain, an air-sea transport agreement was signed, whereby ships that arrive in Bahrain can load goods within hours to planes, and within a few hours land in Israel.”
Naeya stressed that “strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries is a top priority on his agenda,” praising the “desire of the leaderships of the two countries to develop relations that have laid the foundations for good beginnings.”
He considered that “many vital sectors, most notably tourism, culture and sports, constitute important aspects of bringing the two peoples together.”
He indicated his aspiration to send Bahraini students to study in Israeli universities, and to exchange scholarships at various levels, especially medical ones.
