Manama, Bahrain – 22nd June 2026: HE Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), affirmed that Bahrain’s financial services sector continues to demonstrate resilience, while highlighting the opportunities for future partnerships in financial services driven by digital transformation.
These remarks came during HE’s keynote address at Vision Golfe 2026: France-Gulf Strategic Summit, held in Paris, France, under the theme “From Cooperation to Transformation”, and organized by Business France under the Patronage of President Emmanuel Macron.
During his speech, HE the Governor addressed the recent regional developments and their economic implications, and how the GCC emerged more integrated as a result. HE further highlighted Bahrain’s economic resilience and how its financial services sector continued to demonstrate stability during this time.
HE also outlined Bahrain’s response in supporting individuals and businesses through the support package announced by the CBB. HE noted that the package included a three-month loan deferral program and liquidity support to banks and was designed around several key objectives: maximizing economic impact, limiting fiscal implications, and containing inflationary pressures.
Speaking on bilateral partnerships, HE emphasized that the long-standing relationship between Bahrain and France opens avenues to deepen cooperation in financial services innovation. HE described financial services as Bahrain’s largest economic sector and a key driver of investment and high-value jobs, noting that payments, supervisory technology and the future of money offer strong opportunities for Bahrain–France collaborations.
Vision Golfe 2026 took place at the French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, bringing together senior officials and business leaders from the GCC and France to strengthen economic ties and strategic cooperation.