ID :
358808
Mon, 03/02/2015 - 15:18
Auther :

Minister: Bahrain transforming into global investment portfolios management hub

Manama, March 2 -- (BNA): The Minister of Finance delivered a keynote speech at the Global Islamic Investment Gateway GIIG2015 in which he said Bahrain has always been, throughout history, a profound and evolving gateway. Bahrain has always been, throughout history, a profound and evolving GATEWAY, the minister said. In the 19th Century we were a gateway for the burgeoning trade between the Arabian Peninsula and India. In the mid-20th Century we were the gateway for forging new links between the Arab Gulf states and European interests. The ingenious people of these islands have always been amongst the first to reach out, welcome new ideas, engage with the wider world, and create partnerships of mutual benefit, he emphasised. And now, in the 21st Century, Bahrain stands as a NEW GATEWAY – the gateway to OPPORTUNITY on a global scale – ready to utilise the very best of its talent, its regulatory expertise, its mature business environment, advanced infrastructure, technology and VISION, he affirmed. The phenomenal growth of Bahrain as the world’s pre-eminent Islamic banking centre – just 25 years ago – is sure proof of our ability to deliver. This country was able to go where others "feared to tread" – and are still uncertain how to tread – and we did it with originality, belief and purpose. That is the spirit of the Bahraini people; that is the spirit that will take us forward yet again. In this new phase, our country is poised to build upon and further advance its leading position, and we will do it with the same fearlessness and ingenuity that characterised earlier epochs, the minister said. The minister cited the phenomenal growth of Bahrain as the world’s pre-eminent Islamic banking centre just 25 years ago as sure proof of our ability to deliver. This country was able to go where others "feared to tread" and are still uncertain how to tread – and we did it with originality, belief and purpose. That is the spirit of the Bahraini people; that is the spirit that will take us forward yet again. The minister illustrated five themes that characterise Bahrain’s vision of leadership of the nascent Islamic economy. In his speech, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group's President Dr. Ahmed Al Madani said that there are investment opportunities in growing Islamic markets and an increase in international investors attention to these opportunities. Dr. Al Madani added that the event aims to provide investors access to real investment opportunities in the growing Islamic markets. Chief Economist at the EDB Dr. Jarmo Kotilaine, said the markets of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries feature increasingly-growing big populations especially in the youthful age groups who constitute the opportunity for international investors to avail from increasing demand in various sectors such as infrastructures, education, food and agriculture. Organised by the Economic Development Board (EDB), Thomson Reuters, and the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the forum attracted the participation of 1000 specialists from the private and public sectors from various international markets.

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