MANAMA: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, last night underlined the pivotal role of merchant families in promoting the national economy.

He said the kingdom has learnt a lesson that helped it overcome the recent crisis through reconcilement and harmony.

Fraternity and communication is a characteristic that is a feature of Bahrain, he added.

Development and reform will go hand in hand, he stressed.

It came as HRH the Crown Prince visited the majlises of Mohammed Jalal and Sons, cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Al Saad, Shaikh Ibrahim bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Abdulla Al Nuaimi.

He was accompanied by Crown Prince's court political and economic affairs adviser Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince's court president Shaikh Khalifa bin Daij Al Khalifa, Crown Prince's adviser Shaikh Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince's private secretary Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa.