MANAMA — A campaign has been launched to clamp down on commercial cover-ups in Bahrain.

The drive followed the directives of the executive committee chaired by Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who is also the country's prime minister, to promote fair competition and launch projects to create rewarding opportunities for citizens.

Bahrain's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism is carrying out the joint campaign in coordination with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

Bahrain's Industry, Commerce, and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani stressed the necessity of combating commercial cover-up to curb its detrimental impact and protect the national economy.

“Allowing non-Bahrainis to practice a commercial activity that is prohibited by law through the use of the personal data of a Bahraini person or his license or commercial record and other forms of commercial concealment, is completely unacceptable and punishable by law”, he said.

BCCI Chairman Sameer Abdulla Nass stressed the necessity of harnessing all efforts to combat commercial cover-us, adding that that the chamber had previously called for all necessary measures to be taken to stop such practices.

“The chamber has already submitted a study on the requirements of small traders, to the government, recommending tougher penalties for violators who carry out the commercial cover-up”, he said, pointing to the economic damages resulting from the commercial concealment by creating unfair competition for businessmen, especially owners of small and medium enterprises SMEs).