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Sustainability Bloc Captures Majority in Bahrain Chamber 31st Term Board Vote
The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on March 29, 2026, that the Sustainability bloc had secured 17 of the 18 seats on its board of directors in elections held the previous day at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, with independent candidate Bhagwan Das Chellaram Tikamdas Thacker claiming the final position. Nabeel Khalid Kanoo led the balloting with 58,590 votes and was elected chairman during the board’s inaugural session on April 7, according to the chamber, while Yousef Salahuddin Ibrahim and Nawaf Khalid Al Zayani took the first and second vice chairman roles respectively. The election committee, chaired by Abbas Radhi, reported a voter turnout of 26.61 percent among 37,983 eligible members, with 2,613 members attending and 2,599 valid ballots cast out of 2,608 retrieved.
The chamber’s announcement placed the total valid votes at 307,176 after nine ballots were invalidated, reflecting participation by 1,027 members in the overall electoral process that also recorded 6.9 percent overall membership involvement. Radhi stated that the voting occurred in a disciplined, transparent and secure environment, enabling the business community to exercise its electoral rights freely and responsibly. He added that holding the 31st cycle of elections amid regional challenges reinforces the Kingdom of Bahrain’s standing and highlights the strength and efficiency of its national institutions, while expressing appreciation to the Chamber’s executive team, university student volunteers, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain Transparency Society and the Bahrain Lawyers Society for their roles in ensuring the process adhered to the Chamber’s law and regulations.
Local media reports indicated the Sustainability bloc, led by Kanoo, featured a blend of veteran business leaders whose strong performance underscored growing engagement within Bahrain’s business community. The board’s inaugural session on April 7 saw additional appointments, including Ahmed Sabah Al Salloom as treasurer, Khalid Abdulrahman Juma as vice treasurer, and the naming of Thacker and Hassan Bader Kaiksow to the executive committee, the chamber reported from that meeting. Kanoo expressed pride in the trust placed in the new board, acknowledged challenges facing the private sector and thanked King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for their support, according to the session record.
In outlining the term’s direction, the new chairman highlighted priorities that include enhancing communication with members, supporting micro small and medium enterprises, developing legislation and the business environment, strengthening sectoral committees, improving administrative efficiency, achieving financial sustainability, expanding regional and international presence, and advancing social responsibility initiatives. The chamber noted that Kanoo stressed the need for collective work in the upcoming phase and committed to implementing clear action plans with periodic follow-up and evaluation. He also commended the electoral process and the contributions of the previous board during the session attended by representatives from relevant government bodies.
The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry has long played a central role in shaping economic policy through its sectoral committees, which a January 2026 chamber statement described as instrumental in developing initiatives and proposals to drive growth. These efforts align with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy to diversify the economy and improve living standards by reducing reliance on hydrocarbons. World Bank data in its 2021-2026 macroeconomic projections placed Bahrain’s expected growth at 1.3 percent for 2026, with a fiscal deficit forecast to reach 10.2 percent of GDP amid ongoing diversification challenges.
A Bertelsmann Stiftung report on Bahrain’s economic transformation scored the kingdom at 5.96 out of 10 for that metric in its 2026 assessment, citing progress in liberalization offset by rentier-state characteristics and dependence on oil revenues that account for 70 to 80 percent of state income. The BTI 2026 country review noted that Bahrain has strengthened economic ties with partners such as Singapore and China while pursuing reforms under Vision 2030 to address limited natural resources and a population where migrant workers comprise 55 percent. The new board’s emphasis on legislative development and SME support comes as the chamber continues to advocate for measures that bolster private sector resilience in this context.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro congratulated the elected members following the results, according to a ministry statement that underscored the importance of the chamber’s role in national economic development. The election process, which the chamber described as marked by professionalism and strict oversight, concluded with Radhi wishing success to the new board and better fortune to unsuccessful candidates in future cycles. Official results listed the full slate of elected directors in descending order of votes received, starting with Kanoo and including figures such as Mohammed Adel Fakhro, Hassan Bader Kaiksow and Abeer Tariq Al Moayed among the top finishers.
