This chapter includes the following articles.
Economy
Increasing revenues and reducing spending have been established as the core objectives of Bahrain’s economic policy, with subsidy reduction across the board likely to be a common theme in 2016. After energy, the financial sector continues to be the second-largest contributor to GDP, accounting for 16.5% of the total in 2014. This is followed by manufacturing which comprised 14.4% of GDP. Meanwhile the drive for greater private sector participation in the economy, particularly from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), continues apace, and currently 97% of all companies in the kingdom fall into the micro or SME category, between them accounting for almost 30% of GDP. In recent years various government and non-government schemes have been launched offering SMEs financing, training, advisory services and infrastructural support.
This chapter contains interviews with Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB); Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chairman, Tamkeen; and Mahmood Al Kooheji, CEO, Mumtalakat.
