iGA announces 2018 Foreign Investment Survey Results

Manama, Apr. 3 (BNA): The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) released the initial Foreign Investment Survey results for the financial year 2018 conducted in collaboration with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB). The survey measured the volume of the foreign investment of key entities in various economic sectors to provide updated statistical data of the volume and flows of these investments in an initiative that aims at assisting decision-makers to set appropriate policies to attract more investments to contribute in advancing development wheel witnessed by Bahrain. Initial statistics indicated an increase of 5.5 per cent in the volume of direct foreign investment in Bahrain during 2018 in comparison to 2017 with a value exceeding BD 11 billion during the end of 2018. The growth reflects Bahrain’s efforts in attracting more foreign investment and increasing in the capital flows. The report indicated that the volume of the direct foreign investment flow to Bahrain in 2018’s financial year reaches nearly BD 570 million in the top two sectors which are banking and manufacturing. Direct investments from Kuwait accounted for the highest rate of BD3.1 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia which came in second with a value that reached BD 2.8 billion. Libyan Arab Republic positioned as the third with approximately BD 1.3 billion during 2018, raising GCC investments by 65 per cent from the total direct foreign investments.