The World Bank Recognises Bahrain Among the Top-10 Most Improved Economies in the World

- FDI grows from $65 million in 2015 to $1515 million in 2018

Manama, Bahrain (ots/PRNewswire) - Bahrain has been ranked among
the top-10 most improved economies in the world in this year's Doing
Business 2020 report, up 19 places to 43rd place since last year in
the World Bank's assessment of 190 countries. The most improved
economies are selected based on the number of economic programs and
legislative reforms each country has enacted, and on how much their
ease of doing business score improved.

As part of its Economic Vision 2030, Bahrain has implemented a
comprehensive economic reform programme, making it easier to do
business in nine areas measured in the Doing Business ranking, which
evaluates a number of vital indicators of various commercial
activities. This has contributed to the Kingdom benefitting from
increased levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which grew from
$65 million in 2015 to $1515 million in 2018, according to the UNCTAD
World Investment Report 2019. In 2018, Bahrain recorded an annual
real GDP growth rate of 2.2 per cent as well as 3 percent growth in
non-oil sectors.

Commenting on the news, His Excellency Zayed R. Alzayani, the
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, said:

"We welcome the recognition of Bahrain as one of the top ten most
improved economies in the world in this year's Doing Business 2020
report by the World Bank. The tireless efforts of Team Bahrain, which
is made up of the Executive Authority, Legislative Authority,
Judicial branches, private sector, and NGOs, has been acknowledged
globally. Although being recognized among the top ten most improved
economies internationally is in itself an honour for Bahrain and its
people, we stress that our aspirations do not stop here. We will
continue developing our economic programs and initiatives and
capitalising on the opportunities offered to us by regional growth.
We aspire to further develop and strengthen our economy by enhancing
our economic diversification efforts, and by improving Bahrain's
business environment in order to provide opportunities for both local
and foreign investors."

In the Doing Business Report 2020, the World Bank identified
Bahrain as having made the following reforms:

Enforcing contracts

Bahrain has made enforcing contracts easier by creating a
specialised commercial court, establishing time standards for key
court events, and allowing electronic service of the summons.

Getting credit

Bahrain strengthened access to credit by giving secured creditors
absolute priority during insolvency proceedings. During
reorganisation proceedings, creditors are also now subject to an
automatic stay that is limited in time with clear grounds for relief.

Protecting minority investors

Bahrain strengthened the protection of minority investors by
clarifying ownership and control structures.

Resolving insolvency

Bahrain made resolving insolvency easier by introducing a
reorganisation procedure, allowing debtors to initiate the
reorganisation procedure, adding provisions on post commencement
financing, and improving voting arrangements.

Trading across borders

Bahrain made exporting across borders faster by deploying new
scanners powered by artificial intelligence. This system is currently
being used at the King Fahad Causeway. The new scanners have the
capacity to seamlessly screen 120 export trucks per hour.

Dealing with construction permits

Bahrain has made obtaining construction permits easier by further
streamlining the application process through the new building permit
portal 'Benayat', which delegates the application review processes to
licensed engineering firms. This has reduced the time to obtain a
construction permit drastically from 174 days to 71 days.

Getting electricity

Bahrain made the process of getting electricity easier by
investing in digitization and transparency of information and by
improving its inspection and installation process. These reforms have
reduced the number of days it takes to connect to the national
electricity grid from 85 to 69 days.

Registering property

Bahrain has made property registration easier by streamlining
administrative procedures and improving the quality of the land
administrative system, reducing the number of days required to
register a property from 31 to two days.

Paying taxes

Bahrain has made paying taxes easier by implementing electronic
payment of social insurance contributions.

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ots Originaltext: Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB)
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Original-Content von: Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), übermittelt durch news aktuell