A delegation from Bahrain, including senior figures from the Kingdom's Economic Development Board (EDB), is in Germany this week to discuss opportunities for bilateral trade during Hannover Messe 2009, the world's leading showcase for industrial technology. The delegation hopes to build on the close commercial and economic relations between Bahrain and Germany, which have ties dating back to the 18th century. The two countries share a number of agreements including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on trade and industrial cooperation signed in April 2006 and an agreement to encourage and protect bilateral investments signed in February 2007. In October 2008, King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made his first state visit to Germany and met with Chancellor Angela Merkel. __
