Bahrain has only 1.5 million. This is smaller than many cities around the world, and much less than other countries. In terms of the region, the nation of the Persian island of the Gulf island is only about 300 square miles.
But its size is not a defect, according to Nour Al -Khalif, the Minister of Sustainable Development in Bahrain.
“The way we see it is, Bahrain is a test of testing for countries in the region.” luckThe strongest summit of women in the neighboring Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last week.
Companies that are keen to do business in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – which includes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman – Bahrain is used for this purpose.
“You can come and test your idea on a smaller scale, and if a mistake happens, what, it is 1.5 million people – has not really made a mistake.” But if it succeeds, you will gain confidence in expanding its scope throughout the region, as noted. “We see Bahrain as a gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
Al -Khalif, who is also the CEO of the Economic Development Council in Bahrain, said that the small size also allows narrow cooperation.
She said, “We are not really talking as a government, a private sector and a society.” “There is a spirit of Bahrain in the country, and we do so collectively.”
This helps in clarifying how Bahrain has effectively turned its economy beyond oil.
She said: “For us, oil is not even the largest sector in our economy, and it has not been for almost two years yet, and this is the result of a journey that extends for decades.”
Instead, financial services are the largest sector, as Findte was a large growth area. Manufacturing, logistical services, tourism and technology are major sectors.
Bahrain has always had close economic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and learned to complete its largest neighbor, which is connected to a bridge.
“We see ourselves as a service center for Saudi Arabia,” Al -Khalif said.
If the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is developing manufacturing, for example, Bahrain will try to provide support jobs for that, such as being a back office, she said: “Our economy and the Saudi economy have been interconnected for many years, and we see ourselves an integral part of the GCC economy.”
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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