Anas Al -Aghbash – Photography: Nayef Saleh
In his response to a question to Al -Watan, the governor of New Jersey Murphy Murphy revealed that the volume of trade exchange between Bahrain and New Jersey during the current time reached 82.5 million dollars, explaining that there are efforts to increase it during the coming period.
He pointed out during a round table meeting held yesterday, with a number of media representatives during his visit to Bahrain as part of a weekly Gulf tour, that the Kingdom has a large presence in the financial services sector, pointing out that Bahrain is not only a very strong and important partner for the United States, but it is moving in an economic direction that is completely in line with our identity.
He explained that the visit witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a path in Bahrain related to youth training programs and exchanging experiences, expressing his hope to enhance cooperation with Bahrain in the areas of artificial intelligence, financial technology, green economy, medicine, and other sectors.
Asked about the possibility of Bahrain to be a gateway to the state of New Jersey to enter the Middle East region, Murphy explained that investing in the financial services sector in the Kingdom can be the state gate towards entering the region’s markets, indicating that many companies that work in Bahrain have direct or indirect links in New Jersey.
Murphy affirmed his aspiration to build new bridges of cooperation with Bahrain, and to enhance economic and investment relations to serve the common interests of the people of the two friendly countries.
The governor of the state expressed his welcome to Bahraini investments in all fields, especially the financial services sector, explaining that New Jersey possesses a large defensive sector, and has strong military relations with Bahrain.
On the impact of global economic changes such as customs duties and commercial wars on reducing cooperation opportunities, he mentioned that the current geopolitical and commercial conditions impose challenges, but they also create new opportunities, which requires us to be ready to adapt our partnerships according to the variables.
On the customs duties imposed by the American administration, he explained that he is not a supporter of these fees, pointing out in this regard that he is working to pass a huge bill to encourage multinational companies to manufacture products in New Jersey even to avoid these fees.
Murphy gave a glimpse of the New Jersey state, as it indicated that it is one of the most diversified and advanced American states, with a population of about 9.5 million, which makes it ranked 11th in terms of population density.
It also features a strong public education system, and it embraces prestigious academic institutions such as the University of Princeton, as well as being a major center for innovation in the fields of technology, life sciences and the green economy.
He explained that about 20% of the GDP of the United States of America comes either from New Jersey, or passes through it, explaining that the state focuses heavily on pharmaceutical, biological, life sciences, technology, communications, obstetric artificial intelligence, green economy, advanced manufacturing, logistical services, cinema, television, for digital financial technology.
