Doing Business with Bahrain: A Guide to Investment Opportunities and Business Practice (Global Market Briefings)

Now In Its Second Edition, Doing Business With Bahrain Is The Definitive Guide To The Economic Reforms And Initiatives Now Attracting Foreign Investors To The Kingdom. The Guide Emphasizes Bahrain's Key Role As A Regional Financial Hub And Provides Overviews Of Prospective Sectors For Investment, Including Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Telecommunications And Property Markets. In Addition, The Guide Is Well-grounded In Its Explanation Of The Legal And Regulatory Framework, As Well As Finance, Accounting And Taxation Practices And Procedures.contributors Include: Abu Ghazaleh Intellectual Property; Ministry Of Labour & Social Affairs; Al Mahmood & Zu'bi; Alba; Arab Bank; Bahrain Monetary Agency; Bahrain Stock Exchange; Bamco; Banagas; Bank Of Bahrain & Kuwait; Bapco; Bapco; Cluttons; Economic Development Board; Garmco; Gpic; Gulf International Bank; Incite; Kpmg; Mellon Global Investments; Mice Management; Ministry Of Commerce & Industry; Telecommunications Authority; Tourism Department, Ministry Of Information; Trowers & Hamlins. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of Contributors......Page 22 Part One Country Background......Page 30 1.1 Geography and History......Page 32 1.2 The Political System......Page 35 1.3 Bahrain’s Economy......Page 40 1.4 Foreign Trade......Page 50 1.5 The Bahrain–US Free Trade Agreement......Page 59 Part Two The Investment Climate......Page 68 2.1 Current Strategies in Attracting Investment and Fostering Development......Page 70 2.2 Investment Flows in Bahrain......Page 77 2.3 The Development of Corporate Governance in Bahrain......Page 87 2.4 Living and Working in Bahrain......Page 93 2.5 Market Research in Bahrain......Page 98 Part Three Bahrain: The Regional Financial Hub......Page 104 3.1 Bahrain: The Financial Capital of the Middle East......Page 106 3.2 The Regulatory Framework for the Financial System......Page 113 3.3 Bahrain as an International Centre for Islamic Banking......Page 122 3.4 Retail Banking in Bahrain: An Overview......Page 132 3.5 Bahrain Financial Harbour: Reinforcing Bahrain’s Position as the Financial Capital of the Middle East......Page 138 3.6 Company Profile: Gulf Finance House......Page 145 3.7 Company Profile: Stratum......Page 149 Part Four Prospective Sectors for Investment......Page 154 4.1 The Oil and Gas Sector......Page 156 4.2 Bahrain’s Electricity Sector......Page 164 4.3 Bahrain’s Aluminium Industry......Page 167 4.4 Company Profile: Midal Cables......Page 176 4.5 Company Profile: Bahrain Atomisers International BSC......Page 181 4.6 Bahrain’s Telecommunications Sector......Page 187 4.7 Bahrain’s Telecommunications Sector: The Regulatory Framework......Page 193 4.8 Tourism Development......Page 199 4.9 The Residential Property Market......Page 208 4.10 The Commercial Property Market......Page 213 4.11 The Insurance Environment......Page 218 4.12 Company Profile: The Bahrain International Circuit......Page 227 Part Five Bahrain Business Guide......Page 232 5.1 The Legal Regime and Regulatory Environment for International Business......Page 234 5.2 Business Structures and Company Incorporation......Page 243 5.3 Accounting, Auditing and Taxation in Bahrain......Page 251 5.4 Employment Law and Work Permits for Foreigners......Page 259 5.5 Commercial Agency Agreements......Page 264 5.6 Legal Regulation of the Ownership of Land and Real Estate......Page 269 5.7 The Legal Environment and Settlement of Disputes......Page 271 5.8 Forms of Intellectual Property and their Registration......Page 275 Part Six Appendices......Page 282 Appendix I Transport Infrastructure......Page 284 Appendix II Contributor Contact Details......Page 290 Index......Page 298 Index of advertisers and sponsors......Page 308 "Now in its 2nd edition, Doing Business with Bahrain is the most authoritative guide available to trade and investment opportunities and the structural, legal and market changes underway in the country and to all aspects of commercial engagement in Bahrain. It also shows that the Kingdom with its young, well-educated population and developed consumer markets makes an ideal regional base for foreign businesses."--BOOK JACKET 'Published in association with: Economic Development Board, Bahrain, Big On Group, UK Trade & Investment.'