The cost of setting up a business in Bahrain is up to 35 per cent cheaper compared to the rest of the Gulf region. Examples include improvements to the regulatory environment, including updating the bankruptcy law, introducing the data protection law, adopting a cloud first policy, and reducing the minimum capital requirements for starting a business. All the above are important steps the Government has taken to enable a thriving digital economy. Ali Al Mudaifa, DirectorManufacturing, Transport and Logistics Business Development, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), in an extensive interview with Ritika Arora Bhola, discusses more on how the country’s highly competitive cost of doing business is complemented by several other sector-leading developments, increasing productivity and enabling businesses of all sizes to scale faster.
Ali Al Mudaifa
‘Time to market’ and ‘Cost to market’two main variables of importance for logistics companies
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ow is the Kingdom of Bahrain handling the pressure during these times of emergency? With the safety of its citizens and long-term sustainability of its economy as the top priority, Bahrain responded to the pandemic quicker than most, and was one of the first countries in the world to ground flights until quarantine facilities were in place. Now, as the world begins to tentatively reopen, the priority is adjusting to 50 |
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the ‘new normal’ while maintaining health and safety. A number of initiatives are introduced to take the pressure off the country. Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) launched ‘WeWillMeet,’ a digital campaign that promotes the Kingdom as a destination through online channels with a particular focus on the Saudi market. Bahrain International Airport also introduced a dedicated medical protocol for dealing with COVID-19 cases amid
preparations to re-open borders. Moreover, new online services have been revealed by Bahrain’s Port and Maritime Affairs division to ensure smooth flow cargo clearances. Moving ahead, Bahrain’s parliament is discussing a proposal for all government services to be moved online by the end of this year.
Bahrain’s advanced digital infrastructure has done pretty well
