Made in GCC agreements span industrial finance, energy storage and regional trade

Manufacturing, energy storage, food distribution and industrial finance were among the areas covered by agreements announced around the inaugural Made in GCC Forum and Exhibition, held at Exhibition World Bahrain from 6 to 8 October 2026.

Press releases supplied for publication describe a mixture of commercial agreements, memoranda of understanding, financing allocations and future project plans. The figures below refer to different measures and periods, rather than a single total of completed investment.

Industrial finance and greener factories

Bahrain Islamic Bank and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce: Their MoU supports industrial businesses through awareness of Sharia-compliant financing. BisB announced a USD 32 million financing allocation across its Make Local, Make Green and Make Resilient initiatives, covering manufacturing, lower-emission technologies and business resilience. Access remains subject to the bank’s eligibility criteria, policies and procedures.

SAFA and the ministry: A separate MoU supports the Green Factory Seal programme through sustainability data, emissions measurement and reporting, and training. The cooperation aims to help factories manage their environmental performance; the announcement does not report measured reductions already achieved.

Energy storage and industrial production

Enercap and AlSharif Group: Enercap, by Apex Energy, and Saudi Arabia’s AlSharif Group agreed to develop and distribute energy-storage and power-management solutions in Saudi Arabia. The release estimates the collaboration at approximately USD 200 million over three years, with targets of 100 MWh in 2027 and 200 MWh in 2028. These are planned targets, with potential local manufacturing also under consideration.

GARMCO and Alkafaa: Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (GARMCO) and Alkafaa Limited Company signed a USD 6 million MoU for the supply of aluminium sheets to the Saudi market during 2027. According to the release, Fahad Albasam, Executive Manager – Management at GARMCO, and Abdullah Al Ariefy, Chairman at Alkafaa, signed the memorandum in the presence of officials from both organisations.

The memorandum sets a framework for meeting Alkafaa’s 2027 requirements and expanding commercial links between Bahraini manufacturing and the Saudi market. Albasam said the cooperation would strengthen GARMCO’s regional presence, while Al Ariefy expressed confidence in the Bahraini producer’s ability to meet the company’s requirements. The announcement concerns planned supply under an MoU, rather than deliveries already completed.

Gulf Powerbeat: The group’s Bahrain and Saudi companies agreed on technical and operational support for an industrial-packaging factory in Dammam Industrial City 3. The Saudi project has a planned investment of SAR 37.5 million on a 10,000-square-metre site. Production of bulk containers and polyethylene drums is scheduled to begin at the end of November 2026, according to the release.

Boats, building materials and consumer products

H Al Dhaen Boats and SeaKart: Their agreement covers the manufacture of 300 jet boats between 2026 and 2028. The stated final product value for SeaKart is USD 15 million to USD 17 million.

Sohar Porcelain and Abdulaziz Khalil: Oman’s Sohar Porcelain Company and Bahrain’s Abdulaziz Khalil Company signed a commercial agreement valued at USD 1.3 million to supply 180,000 square metres of porcelain tiles annually to Bahrain, according to their release.

Qais Al Maamari, representing Sohar Porcelain, and Jalal Abdulaziz, representing Abdulaziz Khalil, attended the signing ceremony at the forum. Al Maamari said the partnership would expand the presence of Omani products in Bahrain. Abdulaziz said the companies aimed to broaden customer choice and support trade between the two countries. The stated annual supply is an agreement commitment, not a reported volume already delivered.

Poly Products and AJM Kooheji: An MoU covers RAHA mattresses, sleep products, foam and related products, with an estimated annual value of approximately USD 1 million. The partners also plan to explore tailored specifications and commercial and hospitality opportunities.

Bin Ahmed Enterprises and EBR & Co: The Omani manufacturer and Bahraini trading company agreed to supply and distribute plastic products in Bahrain. The release gives estimated annual sales of USD 195,000 to USD 260,000.

Food, logistics and battery supply

Ektifa and Encyclo Trade and Better Foods: Sharjah’s agricultural and livestock production establishment signed an MoU to expand distribution in Bahrain of its products, including Meliha Dairy and Saba’ Sanabel flour and pasta. The release says products are already available through a number of Bahraini retail outlets.

Al Madina Logistics and Al Baraka Logistics: Oman’s Al Madina Logistics Services Company (SAOC) and Bahrain’s Al Baraka Logistics signed an MoU covering air, sea and land freight, customs clearance, commercial representation, re-export and cargo handling.

The memorandum was signed by Dr. Mahmood bin Sakhi Al Balushi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Madina Logistics Services, and Abdulaziz bin Abdulwahid Qarata, Owner of Al Baraka Logistics. It includes technical cooperation, exchange of expertise, joint marketing and preferential rates and services for the companies’ clients. The release says it takes effect from the signing date; it does not announce a monetary value.

Al Balushi described the cooperation as part of the group’s GCC expansion strategy, while Qarata said it would strengthen logistics integration between Bahrain and Oman. Both linked the proposed services to regional supply chains and intra-GCC trade.

Reem Batteries and Sakan Riffa Auto Parts: Their MoU targets the annual supply of 12,000 batteries to Bahrain. A separate Reem agreement with UCA targets 18,000 batteries annually, with an estimated annual value of USD 1 million, as covered in our earlier report on the Reem–UCA agreement.

The announcements illustrate different ways GCC manufacturers and partners are seeking to expand regional trade. Delivery schedules, financing access and planned investments remain subject to the respective agreements and implementation.