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Bahrain Attracts a Record USD 1.7 Billion in Investments for 2023 Boosting Job Creation and Sustainable Economic Growth

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A thriving business friendly and favourable tax environment, progressive legislation, and a highly skilled diverse talent pool cement Bahrain’s attractiveness as a leading destination for investment.

MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), supported by Team Bahrain, has achieved a remarkable milestone securing a record level of investments upwards of USD 1.7 billion in 2023, marking a massive influx equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 55% compared to the USD 1.1 billion in investments generated by Bahrain EDB in 2022. The investments for 2023, which stem from 85 local and international projects, are projected to generate over 5,700 employment opportunities over a three-year period across priority sectors in the interest of promoting economic diversification and sustainable growth.

 

 

The highest level of investments was attracted into the financial services sector, demonstrating the sector’s strength, resilience, and ability to attract leading global players. 2023 was additionally a record year for the financial services sector, which overtook oil and gas as the largest contributor to Bahrain’s economy representing 17.5% of real GDP. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector also secured a healthy pipeline of investments, which is set to spur further innovation within the sector. Enhancing digital transformation efforts across all sectors of Bahrain’s economy with targeted plans and initiatives, as well as digitising government services and adopting artificial intelligence-led solutions has continued to be an area of priority for the government.

Manufacturing followed closely, underscoring Bahrain’s innate capabilities in advanced manufacturing backed by its strategic location as a gateway to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market and beyond. Alongside a host of new tourism projects, the island nation’s rich cultural heritage, deep-rooted history of hospitality and island-living laid-back lifestyle have continued to cement Bahrain’s appeal as a premier travel destination. The logistics sector was not far behind in attracting strong investment projects, reflecting Bahrain’s rapidly growing transport and logistics activities.

Khalid Humaidan, the former Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, having assumed the new position as of February 1st, 2024. In his capacity as Governor, he will remain a member of the board of directors of Bahrain EDB, which comprises members from the public and private sectors.

Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, stated, “2023 is a milestone year for Bahrain EDB. Backed by the agile support of Team Bahrain, a record upwards of USD 1.7 billion in direct local and international investments were attracted into multiple sectors, which will effectively contribute to sustainable economic growth, boosting employment and training opportunities within the local workforce.”

Bahrain’s FDI stock relative to GDP is well above the global average rate at around 82%, which stands as a testament to the robust trust investors place in Bahrain’s competitive value proposition. FDI remains a strong contributor to Bahrain’s continued success story as an agile, steadily growing, and diversified economy,” he added.

Minister of Sustainable Development, H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif joined as Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB In addition to her role as minister, H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif will provide executive guidance to the investment promotion agency to ensure it continues to achieve its mandate of supporting strategic initiatives that enhance the existing investment climate, driving in solid local and global investments, and actively encouraging leading global companies to set up in Bahrain.

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Bahrain remains committed to fostering a supportive ecosystem for investors, with forward looking policies aimed at simplifying business operations, offering unique competitive advantages leading to success stories with local roots and global impact. These factors, combined with a highly skilled, bi-lingual, and diverse talent pool, advanced infrastructure, and strategic location, continue to cement Bahrain as an attractive destination for global investors around the world.

About Team Bahrain

Team Bahrain, a curated approach that champions the private and public sector working closely together to create an innovative an attractive investment environment for businesses to succeed, remains a cornerstone of Bahrain’s value proposition. Whether bidding to pass a new regulation or analysing the feasibility of launching a niche idea to market – Team Bahrain works with empathy and drive connecting investors to the key decision makers that matter.

About Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB)

The Bahrain EDB is an investment promotion agency with the overall responsibility of attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate. The Bahrain EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors to ensure that Bahrain’s investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment.

The Bahrain EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain’s competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, technology and innovation, tourism, education, healthcare, logistics and transport.

For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com

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Safello teams up with Zumo to set the standard for sustainability in Sweden’s crypto sector

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Swedish cryptocurrency exchange Safello has entered into a strategic partnership with Zumo to comply with sustainability disclosures under MiCAR.

STOCKHOLM and EDINBURGH, Scotland, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Safello, the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the Nordics, has entered into an agreement with Zumo, a B2B digital assets platform, to facilitate sustainability disclosure requirements under MiCAR.

Through this collaboration, Safello will leverage Zumo’s expertise in carbon calculations and crypto sustainability impact to ensure accurate and transparent sustainability disclosures. This initiative accommodates the requirements in the European Union’s (EU’s) Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which through Article 66 mandates crypto asset service providers (CASPs) active in the EU to display sustainability disclosures on their websites on the environmental impact of the digital assets in relation to which the CASPs offer services.

In implementing MiCAR, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) has stipulated a nine-month transition period during which it will grandfather the CASP registrations that were granted before MiCAR came into force. Therefore, Swedish CASPs must obtain their MiCA license by 30 September 2025.

“Compliance is at the core of our business. Partnering with Zumo is one of the steps we are taking to meet MiCA’s sustainability disclosure requirements and ensure we provide accurate data to our customers,” says Tara Abdi, Chief Compliance Officer at Safello.

“Safello is a market leader in the Nordics so we’re delighted the team has chosen to partner with Zumo to help meet new regulatory requirements,” adds Nick Jones, Founder and CEO, Zumo.

“Our award-winning Oxygen product was introduced to help CASPs better align their digital asset activities with net zero principles and adopt more sustainable practices. We’re committed to supporting CASPs at every stage of their sustainability journey, and complying to the MiCAR sustainability requirements is a critical first step – By championing actionable steps, and providing new, accessible solutions, we’re supporting the transition towards a more transparent, sustainable, and compliant crypto industry.”

As part of the agreement, Safello will now explore Zumo’s Oxygen solution suite, reinforcing its commitment to both regulatory adherence and sustainability within the crypto industry.

Notes To Editors 

Certified Adviser
Amudova AB is Safello’s certified adviser.

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Safello is the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the Nordics, with over 400,000 users. The company is empowering financial independence by making crypto accessible to everyone. Safello offers a secure and easy solution for buying, selling, storing, as well as depositing and withdrawing cryptocurrencies directly from the blockchain – ensuring seamless  transactions at industry-leading speeds. Operating in Sweden, Safello has been registered as a financial institution with Finansinspektionen (Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority) since 2013 and is listed at Nasdaq First North Growth Market since 2021. For more information visit www.safello.com

About Zumo

Zumo is an award-winning crypto-as-a-service platform. It provides banks, fintechs and other businesses with the infrastructure they need to launch sustainable digital asset solutions.

The company’s purpose is to help build a financial future that creates new opportunities whilst leaving a positive impact on the planet. To achieve this, Zumo is creating easy-to-use financial tools that businesses can embed seamlessly via APIs, so that digital assets are adopted by the mainstream market and used in total peace of mind, every day. 

Zumo was an early signatory of the Crypto Climate Accord and has become a key contributor to industry guidance on the decarbonisation of digital assets, working closely with the World Economic Forum. Zumo’s employees also co-founded the Emerging Technologies Sustainability Taskforce (ETST) to help ensure the specific characteristics of emerging technologies, such as blockchain, are encapsulated so the standards used for sustainability across the global digital assets sector are fit for purpose. 

Find out more at: https://zumo.tech/

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/safello-teams-up-with-zumo-to-set-the-standard-for-sustainability-in-swedens-crypto-sector-302401221.html

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Concirrus: If AI Is Good Enough for Government, It’s Good Enough for Insurance

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LONDON, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AI to Replace Civil Servants and Save £45 Billion: What Does This Mean for Insurance? 

The UK government is betting big on AI. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to replace civil servants with artificial intelligence, calling the state “overcautious and flabby” and promising sweeping reforms. The goal? To cut inefficiencies and save taxpayers £45 billion through automation. 

With thousands of government jobs under review and AI well-suited for routine tasks, the civil service could unlock unprecedented efficiency – saving an estimated £45 billion while empowering its workforce 

Will the Government’s use of AI legitimise its use in wider industry? Are their parallels within insurance?   

The insurance industry faces the same challenges as a market that’s burdened with time-consuming, manual data entry and administrative tasks. AI is poised to change that by automating these processes, allowing underwriters to focus on higher-value decisions, resulting in faster, more accurate quotes, better risk management and a more competitive insurance market. 

Much like in government, AI can reduce operational costs in insurance by eliminating repetitive tasks such as keying (and re-keying) submissions, document analysis, and manual risk evaluations. By leveraging AI, insurers can significantly speed up the quote process, improve efficiency and lower premiums. 

Rewriting the Underwriter job description 

However, AI isn’t replacing underwriters; it’s redefining their roles. As Starmer put it, “No person’s time should be spent on a task where AI can do it better, quicker, and to the same high quality.” 

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For underwriters, this signals a shift from administrative work to strategic decision-making, portfolio expansion, and coverage innovation. Instead of spending time on data entry or outsourcing submissions for manual processing, underwriters will be free to focus on evaluating complex risks and maximising capacity deployment. 

AI won’t make you obsolete; but your competitors using it might 

As the government leads the charge in AI-driven reform, the insurance sector must follow. AI is not just a tool for cost-cutting, it’s a powerful driver of efficiency, customer experience, and competitive advantage. 

The question is no longer if AI will reshape underwriting but how quickly insurers will adopt it. Those who embrace AI may well outpace their competitors. Those who don’t? They risk being left behind, because AI won’t replace underwriters – but underwriters who use AI will replace those who don’t. 

About Concirrus 

Concirrus revolutionizes underwriting in specialty and commercial insurance with AI-driven solutions that turn hours-long processes into decisions made in seconds. Founded in 2012, it serves sectors like aviation, transportation, marine, surety, construction, political violence, and terrorism. Trusted by leading insurers, its AI analytics streamline operations, optimize risk assessment, and empower smarter, faster decisions in a rapidly evolving industry. To learn more, visit: https://concirrus.ai 

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The 137th Canton Fair: Strengthening Middle East Trade Ties with Successful Promotion Events

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GUANGZHOU, China, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The 137th Canton Fair is coming this April. Recognized as the largest trade fair in China, the fair successfully conducted a Middle East roadshow in February, with trade promotion events in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

“The Canton Fair provides a one-stop service platform for the global business community to trade commodities, exchange ideas and align rules and policies. The 137th Canton Fair will open on April 15, and we cordially invite Middle East enterprises to join the exhibition to strengthen cooperation and achieve win-win with global business partners,” said Ma Fengmin, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre.

On February 13, the 137th Canton Fair Promotion Workshop was successfully held in Doha. Ali Saeed Bu Sharbak Al Mansori, the Acting General Manager of the Qatar Chamber (QC), praised the strong QatarChina relations, noting China’s importance as one of Qatar’s most important trade partners and the noticeable developments in various fields, especially in economic and trade sectors. He emphasized the significance of the Canton Fair and Qatar Chamber’s commitment in fostering business ties and partnerships between Qatar and China. GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group) highlighted the Canton Fair as a bond of friendship and a bridge for trade, encouraging the Qatari business community to attend the Canton Fair.

The Canton Fair working group also visited manufacturing group QIMC, home furniture chain Nabina Group, premium department store Blue Salon and Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.

On February 16 and 17, the Canton Fair working group hosted two promotion conferences in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and over 130 local representatives attended the conferences to exchange ideas and promote trade cooperation. He Song, Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, stated that bilateral trade between China and Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded in recent years. Saudi Arabia’s exports to China are extending from traditional energy to diversification, while China’s exports to Saudi Arabia, including mechanical and electrical equipment, automobiles, new energy products, and IT equipment, are also becoming increasingly abundant. Saudi buyer representative highlighted the Canton Fair’s importance for sourcing goods, expanding business, and giving Saudi factories a global platform. Midea expressed that the Canton Fair serves as a global opportunity engine, accelerating the building of mutual trust and promoting shared growth. ToGo power said that the Canton Fair is an excellent platform for finding new suppliers, developing exclusive product lines, and establishing strategic partnerships.

Subsequently, the working group continued to visit the local home furniture retailer Saco and retail enterprise Bin Dawood, and attended the Big 5 exhibition, where they engaged with some of the exhibitors.

In Dubai, the 137th Canton Fair Promotion Conference held on February 19 was attended by about 100 partners and guests. Wang Xiaojia, Counsellor of the Chinese Consulate-General in Dubai, highlighted the strengthening economic ties between China and the UAE. The Canton Fair has become a premium platform for deepening cooperation between two countries. UAE enterprises are welcomed to join the 137th session and further expand business cooperation. Danube Group Vice Chairman and Milano Founder Anis Sajan reflected on his long-standing attendance at the Fair since the early 2000s, commending China’s robust supply capabilities and the event’s role in gathering global business opportunities. Haricharan DTP, Haier Gulf Electronics LLC sales Director, noted that the Canton Fair provides a window for communication, a stage to showcase the strength and image of the enterprise, and promotes technological innovation and industrial upgrading.

The working group visited Dubai World Trade Centre, port and logistics enterprise Gulftainer, Expo Centre Sharjah, retailer LULU, overseas warehouses of cross-border e-commerce companies as well as Gulfood tradeshow.

As an important milestone in building the online platform of the fair, the Canton Fair App now brings integrated online and offline experience for exhibitors and buyers, and serves as a 365-day, uninterrupted business matchmaking platform.

The 137th Canton Fair will be held from April 15 to May 5, 2025 in Guangzhou. To download the Canton Fair App, please visit https://cief.cantonfair.org.cn/en/app/appintro.html.

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