Oxford Business Group form Mid East strategic partnership with global accountancy firm

Working strategically across the whole MENA region, this unprecedented partnership will provide up-to-the-minute comment and forecasts on developing trends in every diverse market across the region, including Bahrain, for the soon to be published and highly anticipated business annual 'The Report: Emerging Bahrain 2007'.

"The tax free regime of Bahrain has transparent, liberal and forward looking policies that have been pivotal in attracting foreign investment into the country," said Elham Hassan, Senior Partner for PwC. "Last year, Bahrain introduced new regulations governing the start-up of businesses in the Kingdom, making it easier, faster and cheaper to set up a new enterprise."

Despite such developments there is a significant challenge facing the future sustainability of the Bahrain economy, according to Hassan. "There is a pressing need to ensure that the labour market offers the staff and skills to keep up with the expansion of the financial sector and the innovations in its products. The key facet that is pivotal to the transformation of the Bahrain economy, in my view, is labour reform with a particular focus on the empowerment of women.

"Looking at such factors we will work in partnership with OBG to publish insightful analysis that will guide stakeholders through the reforming, complex, financial landscape of the Kingdom," said Hassan.

According to Elizabeth Boissevain, Regional Director, OBG, such partnerships with leading industry specialists serve to enhance the publisher's in-depth market knowledge and corporate expertise. "This is the first time that we have entered in to such a far reaching partnership and working with PwC across every market in the MENA will help to leverage and strengthen OBG's reputation as the number one provider of comprehensive and accurate analysis of political, macroeconomic and sectoral developments across the whole region," said Boissevain.

The ongoing research and analysis from the partnership will appear in 'The Report: Emerging Bahrain 2007' to be published in the next quarter.