Bahrain is an attractive business environment. It offers the financial incentives of a tax haven, combined with low operating costs, cheaper energy and a modern capital infrastructure, and it has a thriving business community.
Events at the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Centre for June are in our Events calendar
Finance Sector
The Financial sector in Bahrain continues to grow, and is one of the driving forces of the economy.
The banking and insurance sector represent over 25% of the real GDP.
With over 150 banks, some 160 plus insurance related companies and nearly 50 specialized investment businesses, it is one of the healthiest grow areas in the economy.
The Central Bank of Bahrain's annual report has shown that employment in the financial services industry grew by 2,200 new positions in 2007.
The 22.6% increase brought the total number of people employed in the sector to 11,960.
One example of this growth, is the creation of the
Bahrain Financial Harbour.
This is a bespoke Financial Centre, developed exclusively to provide a high-tech, sophisticated environment for international and regional banking.
And the whole development is integrated with a major urban and retail complex.
Website: http://www.bfharbour.com
Contact Details:
Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company B.S.C.(c)
PO Box 2210, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Tel: (973) 17563563
Fax: (973) 17582511
E-mail: info@bfharbour.com
Telecommunications
This market was fully liberalised in 2004, and all of its sectors are open to competition from local, regional and international sources.
Its infrastructure is a highly advanced one, and it has been fully digitised since 1999.
The current major service providers are:
Batelco (Fixed Line, Internet & Mobile)
2Connect (Fixed Line & Internet)
Nuetel (Fixed Line & Internet)
Zain (Internet & Mobile)
Mena, Kalaam & Orbit (Internet)
The telecommunications market is very dynamic, and Batelco, for example, are in the final phase of a Next Generation Network roll-out which will give ‘on demand’ broadband access to its subscribers.
Manufacturing
One of the main aims of the Bahraini government has been to create a diversified economy, and the growing manufacturing and industrial base are a testimony to that strategy.
And with over 300 new industrial licences issued in 2007, the growth just goes on.
Some of the main sectors are:
Aluminium production
Automobile manufacture
Food processing
Iron & Steel production
Laptop assembly
Petrochemical processing
Power & water generation
Bahrain Investment Wharf
In January 2006, Tameer set about establishing Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW), putting the Kingdom of Bahrain on the map as a destination for investors and their business needs.
BIW is set to help create job opportunities within Bahrain and inject immense capital into the local economy, while attracting foreign investment, and enhancing Bahrain’s reputation on the world stage. BIW also aims to create opportunities in supporting services and industries such as Finance Tourism, Construction, Trade, Health and Education.
BIW adds value to the prominent reputations of the Kingdom by:
Highlighting Bahrain as a Manufacturing and Logistics hub
Utilizing Bahrain as an Export hub to the USA
Enhancing the existing Foreign Direct Investment
Creating employment opportunities for skilled Bahraini nationals
Advancing skilled Bahraini labour
Promoting existing Bahraini supporting services
The diversification of the Bahraini economy
Website: http://www.bahiw.com
Contact Details:
P.O.Box: 21903, Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain.
Tel: +973 17 468 500
Fax: +973 17 468 511
E mail: info@bahiw.com
