PreMoney MENADecember 6th 2015

Promoting a world-class environment for business

EDB is the first point of contact for investors, delivering a world class, seamless experience across the investor lifecycle

Business development• Guidance through the

decision-making process • Identification of potential

partners, distributors, agents and customers

Facilitation• Access to natural resources

(gas, land, etc.), commercial and industrial properties

• Commercial registration support

Aftercare services• Aftercare support• Expansion support

The Economic Development Board is a dynamic public agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into Bahrain and supporting the growth and diversification of Bahrain’s economy

The regional opportunity

Source: Frost and Sullivan Analysis ¹The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) ²Gartner, 2014

The regional ICT opportunity

GCC ICT sector expected growth

10% per annum over the next 5 years

IT spending the Middle east region

$200 bnin 2015

MENA region Internet users (6hrs/day) 200 mn

GCC global smartphone penetration rate 120%

By 2020 the population of the GCC is expected to increase by one third

GDP$1.6tn

Population50.7mn

Imports$464bn

Exports$932bn

2013

2014

2013

2013

A young, growing, technologically adept and affluent population which is seeing rapid growth in demand for

mobile data, applications and services.

Addressing the Challenges

Training thatbuilds and retainshuman capital

Reducedregulation

Lower start-up costsand easier accessto funding

Bahrain offers the optimal environment for technology focused investment in the region

Huawei’s regional HQ

Microsoft

WIPRO

local and international IT service providers already

based in the Kingdom including:

The most liberalised telecom sector in the Gulf

Bahrain is well connected, with five sub-marine cables

Bahrain offers an ideal testing ground for new technologies, due to its demographic make-up, its ring-fenced market and tech-savvy population

30+

Highly skilled domestic workforce with Bahrainis comprising 70% of the ICT sector workforce

Bahrain’s Networked Readiness ranked amongst the top countries globally

Source: 1International Telecommunications Union, 2World Economic Forum

King Fahad Causeway

GCC Interconnection Grid

Flag FalconFiber Optic Gulf (FOG)

TATA

Gulf Bridge International Cable System

#1

15

5

91%of population have Internet access - well above the global average of 40%

ranked as the #1 country in the Arab world (and 27th globally) in ICT development1

ranked among the top 15 countries in the world for individual mobile and internet usage2

ranked among the top 5 countries in the world for government policy, development and services2

International Undersea Cables

Supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Bahrain has a well established environment for supporting entrepreneurs

42 Countries follow Bahrain’s model

of Bahrainis are interested in starting their own business

70%

Education & Training

Access to Finance

Professional Support

Incubators & Accelerators

The Bahrain SME Model is endorsed by UNIDO as the Best SME model in the World.

Bahrain organisations create a platform for entrepreneurial support

Achieving success for generations to come

A culture of innovation and entrepreneurship

A developing, supportive ICT ecosystem

Mentorship and support for start-up businesses

Working with international and local partnersto foster and grow the sector

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Thank you

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Thank you

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