Bahrain a 'gateway to billion-dollar markets'.MANAMA: Bahrain's ability to assist international companies in global recession was highlighted at a key event in London. The message was delivered at the 'Bahrain Gateway - Opening the Way to Billion Dollar Markets' event by General Organisation of Sea Ports chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa. The business briefing held at the Hilton Hotel was attended by more than 100 senior UK businessmen. The event highlighted business opportunities available in the Northern Gulf and the Middle East. "Bahrain is a pioneer in the business history of the region," said Bahrain's Ambassador to London Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa. "It leads the way in regulatory reform Regulatory Reform concerns improvements to the quality of government regulation. At the international level, the "OECD Regulatory Reform Programme is aimed at helping governments improve regulatory quality -- that is, reforming regulations that raise unnecessary obstacles to and business-friendly environment not just in the region but globally," he added. Increasing profitability and business opportunities were the themes of the seminar with speakers from Europe Arab Bank The Arab Bank, formed in 1930, is a prominent financial institution in the Arab world, with 400 branches and offices in 25 countries.[1] Its parent company is Arab Bank plc incorporated in Amman, Jordan, where its headquarters are also located. , Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Economic Development Board, Bahrain Logistics Zone, APM (Advanced Power Management) A programming interface (API) from Intel and Microsoft for battery-powered computers that lets programs communicate power requirements to slow down and speed up components. See ACPI. APM - Advanced Power Management Terminals Bahrain and Arabian Ship Repair Yard. UK's Shadow Minister of Business, Innovation and Skills Lord Hunt of Wirral, who opened the seminar, said: "What Bahrain has to offer UK companies is stability, both economic and political. This is supported by advantages to businesses in costs and location. "Now Bahrain can add the state-of-the-art Khalifa Bin Salman Port as another jewel in its crown. These factors in any period of economic climate are a great news story." Shaikh Daij noted that the global recession was easing "contrary to reports of gloom gloom n. 1. a. Partial or total darkness; dimness: switched on a table lamp to banish the gloom of a winter afternoon. b. A partially or totally dark place, area, or location. coming from several centres, there is some very encouraging data. For instance, the UK ship register has shrugged off the economic slowdown For articles with similar titles, see Slow Down (disambiguation). A slowdown is an industrial action in which employees perform their duties but seek to reduce productivity or efficiency in their performance of these duties. and reported strong growth during 2008 over the previous year, pushing total gross tonnage TONNAGE, mar. law. The capacity of a ship or vessel. 2. The act of congress of March 2, 1799, s. 64, 1 Story's L. U. S. 630, directs that to ascertain the tonnage of any ship or vessel, the surveyor, &c. to its highest level in over two decades. "In this context, it is worth noting that for Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company, 2008 was the most successful year since the company began its operations in 1977." Shaikh Daij confirmed his optimism for the economic future adding, "I firmly believe that the global economy will recover sooner than most people think." Bahrain's bilateral trade with the UK has been growing steadily over the years. The total value of trade between Bahrain and the UK increased by 62 per cent from u131 million in 2003 to u213m in 2007. "Of this, Bahrain imports rose by almost 61pc from u122m in 2003 to u196m in 2007. These figures reflect only a fraction of the potential business that goes on between the UK and Bahrain. They do not reflect the strategic position of Bahrain for brokering and hosting business opportunities for companies and clients in, say, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (sä  `dē ərā`bēə, sou`–, sô–), officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (2005 est. pop. ,
Qatar and even Iraq," he said.
The delegates at the Briefing were particularly impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: by the facilities available at the Bahrain Logistics Zone and the choice of international brands for Bahrain as location for their business. A participant at the seminar, Nicholas DeSantis, chief executive of Twelve Star Communications, said: "I was impressed by Bahrain's creation of a world-class infrastructure that fully links Bahrain to the regional and global economy - outstanding links by road, sea and air. We are definitely reconsidering our business model for the region in the light of what I have heard today, what is good for Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is the largest food and beverage company headquartered in North America and the second largest in the world after Nestlé SA. The Philip Morris Company (now known as Altria Group), a company that produces tobacco products, acquired Kraft for is good enough for us to consider." Shaikh Daij added: "The message from me here today is that Bahrain is continuing to expand as planned in spite of the recent global economic downturn. This reflects our optimism and confidence in the inherently strong economic fundamentals of Bahrain, faith in a dynamic private sector and a trust in the government's enlightened economic and industrial policies - policies which are based on our long-term strategy of the diversification Diversification A risk management technique that mixes a wide variety of investments within a portfolio. It is designed to minimize the impact of any one security on overall portfolio performance. Notes: Diversification is possibly the greatest way to reduce the risk. of our economy through a strong skilled local workforce, inspired by our historic natural position as a trading entrepot ENTREPOT. A warehouse; a magazine where goods are deposited, and which are again to be removed. to the region. "This message is not just mine, but also that of Forbes magazine, earlier this year, which placed Bahrain as the number one business centre in the region." The Briefing was supported by the UK Trade and Investment, The Middle East Association and Arab British Chamber of Commerce. Bahrain Gateway roadshow now moves on Hamburg Hamburg, city, Germany Hamburg (häm`b  rkh), officially Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg), city (1994 pop. .
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