New rules are being drawn up to organise the operations of food trucks across Bahrain to ensure their sustainability.
Bahrain’s three municipal councils – Northern, Southern and Muharraq – along with the Capital Trustees Board have acknowledged the importance of supporting and regulating the booming food truck industry, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, they have also been bombarded with complaints about the mushrooming of the outlets in certain areas, creating traffic congestion and disorganised food truck districts.
CONGESTION
In Buhair alone there are 30 food trucks located on one long stretch of road, bordering a massive empty plot of land and leading to a popular walkway that faces essential businesses and homes.
The Southern Governorate and Southern Municipality have now ordered the trucks to be pushed further into the empty plot by 10 metres and to create enough distance between them.
This overrides an earlier decision by the municipality to remove the food trucks from Buhair by July 4.
It comes following an order issued late Wednesday night by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa to support and ease obstacles facing commercial activities operated by young Bahrainis, especially food trucks.
INVIGORATE
Shaikh Nasser, who is representative of His Majesty King Hamad for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Adviser and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman, also called for a joint taskforce between the Youth and Sports Ministry, the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry, the Southern Governorate, the Southern Governorate Security Directorate and representatives of food truck owners to organise and support youth commercial businesses and to develop a framework and infrastructure to invigorate the sector.
“Specific rules for commercial registrations are respected, but when it came to location or how the trucks should be set up things were done in the wrong way,” said area MP Ahmed Al Ansari during a visit to the site yesterday.
“Everyone wants this sector to improve, but not at the expense of safety, peace of mind or privacy of homes.
“This was an issue in Buhair as homes and businesses complained repeatedly and action was necessary.
“The decision by authorities concerned to step in has reduced problems, but more organisation is necessary.”
Area councillor Abdulla Abdullatif, who inspected the site alongside Mr Al Ansari, said all of the trucks are being operated by young Bahrainis who have shown great co-operation and understanding to organise the location.
“The trucks have now been pushed back by 10m and even spaces between them have increased,” he said.
“Now with the joint taskforce, more steps will be introduced.
“The Bahraini owners want to continue in Buhair and we want them to be successful, but concerns raised by the public had to be addressed.”
In Janabiya, which hosts the second largest number of food trucks in the country, rules are being drawn up to ensure the area is not overcrowded.
“There is no monitoring from the ministries concerned, even before Covid-19, and it is time that clear rules are drawn up,” said area councillor and Northern Municipal Council member Zaina Jassim.
“We are not against this type of business, we are simply unhappy with the way the mechanism was conducted.”
Her colleague in the Capital Trustees Board, Dr Maha Shehab, said a clear mechanism was also required to organise the sanitation and health aspects of food trucks.
“There have to be strict health conditions introduced such as dispensing of oil and garbage, along with tackling road disruption or complaints,” she added.
Muharraq Municipal Council member Fadhel Al Oud added that it was essential for all authorities concerned to swiftly work together to ensure support for such businesses that are owned and operated by young Bahrainis.
MECHANISM
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Food Truck Group has welcomed the new guidelines and pledged to work closely with authorities to ensure a mechanism was set to regulate the industry and help local businesses grow.
“We want the sector to be regulated and organised because it ensures that those who operate illegally are stopped,” said the group’s president Amal Mohammed.
“Stricter rules means there is a certain trust to what we serve and how we manage our business.”
The group has around 150 food trucks registered under its umbrella, with Ms Mohammed expecting more businesses to open in the near future.
The group’s honorary president is MP Ahmed Al Salloom, who is also board member of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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