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Bahrain – The Gateway To The Region
The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in a bay between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, connected by a 27 km long Causeway to Eastern Saudi Arabia. The prime target markets that can easily be reached from Bahrain due to cultural and traditional links and geographic location are the GCC countries, the Arabic Economic Region and Central and Western Asia.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
Bahrain is a founder member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which has six member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The GCC has been created in 1981 as an economic association and the member countries are working continuously towards a further economic and political integration.
| Total Population |
32,223,000 |
| Population Growth |
2.36% (to reach 78 million by 2050) |
| Foreign Nationals |
30% |
| Total Work Force |
10,300,000 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
US$ 370 billion |
| GDP real growth rate |
3-4% |
| GNP per capita |
between US$ 8,000 and US$ 21,700 |
| Exports |
US$ 190 billion |
| Export destinations |
mostly Asia |
| Export commodities |
Petroleum products, Petro-chemicals, Metal, Fertilizer |
| Imports |
US$ 80 billion |
| Origin of Imports |
Europe, Japan, USA |
| Import Commodities |
All non-oil commodities, Food, Clothing, Transport |
(All figures 2001 estimates)
The Arabic Economic Region and Central and Western Asia
The Arabic economic region has a population of 240 million and will reach almost 500 million by 2050 (estimated by the United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA) whilst Central and Western Asia account for 1.5 billion or one quarter of the world population and will reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Most of these economies are already in transition, either for a life after oil or have started development and massive industrialization programmes and as a direct result many countries in the region will sustain the highest economic growth rates for the coming decades.
Bahrain is right in the Centre and there is a virtually unlimited business potential for Bahrain as the GATEWAY AND HUB FOR THE REGION.
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