Bahrain

Bahrain's financial system remains resilient, liquid and strong despite the recent unrest.

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) tourism committee chairman Nabeel Kanoo said more needed to be done to counter negative reports about Bahrain in the West.

Firmly into 2012, how are the Arab revolutions developing? We check in with some of the Arab protest pictures to gauge to what extent they have reached revolution saturation, or on the contrary are just getting started.

A feasibility study conducted in 2009 suggested the 90km railway link from Dammam to Bahrain would cost between $4.2 billion and $4.5 billion according to 2008 figures.

Florists say the figure is down from last year amid concerns that home deliveries could be disrupted tomorrow (February 14).

Bahrain's business-friendly credentials and economic potential have got an endorsement that speaks louder than most, it is the voice of the industry that has come at a time of global economic turbulence.

Bahrain's tourism sector is set to miss out on tens of thousands of dinars after one of the world's largest luxury cruise liners cancelled stops here today and next Wednesday.

Bahrain, in particular, has been forecasted to experience key growth this year through the strong support and backing of the Bahraini government.

The kingdom should make it a priority to ensure its young people are well prepared for the challenges of working in the modern economy," inJAz Bahrain executive director Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa said.

The 478,193 registered vehicles mean an average of two cars per household compared with 250,978 at the end of 2002, said Works Minister Essam Khalaf.

It is important that all groups move on rather than jeopardise the country's future, says Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-chairman Abdulhameed Al Kooheji.

President Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa stressed that the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) was continuing efforts to attain the best global expertise for Bahraini media cadres

As the year comes to close, many are relieved that a year of stormy clouds and unabated anger is behind us. Things can only get better or is there still worse to come? In 2011, it turned out that we could not forecast the range of violent weather, nor could we predict the rage of people. From the Gulf to the Caucuses, and from the USA to Japan the world felt pain in 2011.

The construction sector is expected to see significant growth by 2012 in Bahrain, said experts.

The relationship of Arab and Persian can be summarized as one of antagonistic alternating bouts of best of friends with worst of neighbors!

Naser Mohammed al-Belooshi, Executive Director of management services at the Bahrain Monetary Agency, the Gulf Arab state's central bank -said capital limitations would continue to seriously compromise the ability of Islamic banks to finance major international projects.

As the Bahraini government is faced with a growing shortfall of affordable housing, currently estimated at 40,000 units, it must react quickly and efficiently to meet the soaring demand.

A special commission investigating Bahrain's March crackdown on Shiite-led protests said on Wednesday that police used "excessive force"

Bahrain's economy is likely to have a stronger recovery during the second half of 2011 as some sectors have already picked up economic activity, in particular manufacturing and to some extent the finance sector.

This week, a Norwegian multi-gas speciality carrier, designed to carry Bahrain Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as well as a range of other liquefied gas cargoes, was formally named Bahrain Vision at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

Numerous wedding halls have been badly affected by illegal roadblocks and disruption caused by anti-government protesters and extra security measures brought in to stop them.

In the first such visit by an Arab or foreign ruler since he stepped down on February 11, ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met earlier this week Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa

The Kingdom's Minister of Industry and Commerce has announced a $13 billion commitment to Bahrain International Investment Park.

Bahrain may have to pay higher yields on the $1 billion of Islamic bonds it plans to sell next month as concern that the country's political turmoil is yet to be resolved pushes the nation's debt risk to a two-year high.

The new plan is going to be forward-looking and is intended to put Bahrain at the forefront of information and communications technology development so that the relevant sectors continue to contribute to Bahrain's economy and society.

The country holds a very good reputation abroad in the business sector and remains very attractive to foreign investors.

China is currently the third largest non-GCC market for Bahrain exports while it is the second largest importer into the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A system to combat economic crime as well as its current judiciary role is vital.