July 16 (Reuters) - Bahraini and U.S. companies signed a
series of agreements worth approximately $17 billion, aimed at
strengthening economic ties and advancing cooperation across key
sectors, Bahrain's state news agency BNA reported on Wednesday.
The deals span sectors such as aviation, technology,
industry, and investment.
Among the agreements, Cisco Systems ( CSCO ) will provide
digital solutions for Bahrain's government information and
telecommunications infrastructure.
Separately, plans were announced to establish an
800-kilometre (497-mile) multi-fiber submarine cable linking
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq to global networks,
according to BNA.
Bahraini financial institutions and private-sector firms
also announced plans to invest $10.7 billion in the United
States, while sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat signed deals with
several U.S. companies to invest $2 billion in downstream
aluminium projects, with a focus on job creation.
The signing ceremony took place during Bahraini Prime
Minister and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa's visit to
Washington late on Tuesday.
He emphasized that expanding cooperation with the United
States could help create new economic opportunities through
investment and collaboration.
In 2023, Bahrain and the U.S. signed a security and economic
agreement, and Bahrain continues to host the U.S. Navy's Fifth
Fleet and the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central
Command.