On April 30, CLDP led a roundtable and focus group on government tendering in cooperation with Bahrain Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MOICT), Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), AmCham Bahrain and several government contracting agencies to discuss the government’s draft procurement amendments to promote set-aside programs for small-and medium size enterprises (SME).  Over 50 participants, a majority of which were small companies interested in government tendering, attended the roundtable working group to discuss challenges for SME participation and ways for the new draft law to address such issues, such a program where 20%  of all government tendering, similar to the United States, could benefit SME, and whether publication and transparent communication with respect to advertising and awards of government tenders could address many of the challenges SME face in the country. In drafting the law, the MOICT has considered incorporating many of the recommendations made by CLDP, including creating a small-business oversight body and technical assistance procurement center for SMEs to strengthen the government procurement system in the Bahrain. While the initial draft law is to be delivered by the MOICT and the inter-agency working group (including Bahrain's Parliament) by May 2018, CLDP expects to continue to provide technical assistance on SME procurement reform to help establish implementation mechanisms to address small-business set aside programs.