Country Profile
From The Report: Bahrain 2023
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The strategic location of the island country of Bahrain, combined with its business-friendly ecosystem and diversified economy, has seen it emerge in recent decades as an attractive destination for foreign investment. The kingdom’s economic resilience during the disruption that came with the Covid-19 pandemic, aided by stable governance and a commitment to economic reform, has positioned the country as a competitive player in the GCC and broader Middle East. The country’s guiding plan, Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, aims to enhance private sector growth and promote government investment in infrastructure, affordable housing, human resource development and digital transformation. The kingdom maintains a developed industrial sector and hosts the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter outside of China, Aluminium Bahrain, with downstream firms creating products for export.

This chapter contains an interview with Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Solid footing: Growth in tourism and the financial technology industry boost efforts towards economic diversification
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The strategic location of the island country of Bahrain, combined with its business-friendly ecosystem and diversified economy, have seen it emerge in recent decades as an attractive destination for foreign investment. The kingdom’s economic resilience during the disruption that came with the Covid-19 pandemic, aided by stable governance and a commitment to economic reform, have positioned the country as a competitive player in the GCC and broader Middle East. History One of the first groups to…

Interview

Sustaining success: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, on upskilling the local workforce and attracting investment
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Interview: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa To what extent is Bahrain’s drive towards sustainability shaping investment attraction strategies? SHAIKH KHALID BIN ABDULLAH AL KHALIFA: Several fiscal sustainability initiatives aim to promote foreign direct investment (FDI). The Economic Recovery Plan (ERP), which launched in 2021, includes a roadmap that supports long-term economic growth and competitiveness. The plan includes 27 programmes under five main pillars: launching major strategic projects;…

Analysis

Sustainable development: Bahrain promotes socio-economic development through women’s empowerment and transition towards green energy
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Bahrain has made the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, a central component of its socio-economic planning. The SDGs represent 17 global objectives that call for action to eradicate poverty, preserve the planet, and promote peace and prosperity by 2030. The kingdom has made significant strides towards achieving these goals domestically, with the government taking steps to align its national strategies with the SDGs. This includes Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, the country’s…

Analysis

Regional ties: Bilateral trade talks between the UK and the GCC are set to boost renewable energy and food security in the bloc
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In June 2022 the UK and the GCC officially launched negotiations for a comprehensive trade deal to reduce or remove tariffs on a series of goods and services. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former UK secretary of trade, met with Nayef Falah Al Hajraf, the GCC secretary-general, and representatives from the six GCC countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Energising Renewables With current annual trade at around $40bn between the GCC and the UK, the deal is expected to help Gulf…