The value of Bahrain's exports to the United States increased by five times in five months, following the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), it was revealed yesterday.

Exports from Bahrain to the US, valued at BD3.5 million (US$9.3 million) in August last year, increased to BD6.5 million in September and to BD17.5 million in December, said acting director general of customs Hassan Al Majid. The FTA came into force last August.

"While Bahrain's exports to the US increased by 46 per cent in November, the US exports to Bahrain also showed a 43 per cent increase," he told a seminar on FTA: Opportunities and Challenges. The event was staged by the Bahrain Business Women's Society (BBS) in co-operation with the Businesswomen's Committee of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

It was sponsored by the Middle East Partnership Initiative in co-ordination with Beyster Institute at the Rady School of Management, at the University of California, San Diego. The seminar was the sixth event held in Bahrain as part of the Speaker's Bureau, which comprises in addition to Bahrain, six more countries - the UAE, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon and Morocco. In each country, nine events will be held during one year.