Bahrain Ecomomic Development Board announces delegation to Davos World Economic Forum

H.H. The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chairman of the EDB, will lead the delegation to the WEF. The delegation members accompanying HH The Crown Prince are H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance, H.E. Mr. Jehad Bukamal, Minister of Information, H.E. Mr. Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive, Bahrain EDB, Mr. Abdulrahman Jawaheri, General Manager GPIC, Mr. Talal Al Zain, CEO of Mumtalakat and Mr. Kamal Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer, Bahrain EDB.

H.H. The Crown Prince and other speakers from Bahrain will be making a number of high profile speeches as follows:

24 January, H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalilfa: Rebuilding Brand America: Five Suggestions for the Future President
24 January, H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa: Geopolitical Risk and Business
25 January, Khalid Janahi, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Al Shamil Bank: Understanding Iran's Ambitions

In addition to the delegation, a group of 8 Bahraini companies will join the Bahrain EDB in its efforts to promote Bahrain during the Davos meetings. The Bahrain EDB's partners are: Al Shamil Bank, Investcorp, Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), TAIB Bank, Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Aluminum Bahrain (Alba), Gulf Air, and Mumtalakat Holding. The eight partners are jointly hosting a series of business activities throughout the week that highlight Bahrain's competitive advantages and business environment.

Bahrain will focus its agenda on a number of key issues whilst at Davos along four key themes. The first is 'A progressive government dedicated to business' where Bahrain will
underline its government's commitments to ensuring a business-friendly financial, tax, legal and regulatory structure.

The second is 'strong economic fundamentals' where Bahrain's role as the freest and most open economy in the MENA region (according to the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation 2008 Economic Freedom Report) will be raised. Thirdly, Bahrain will communicate its socially progressive culture; and lastly, its ideal geographic access for companies interested in the booming MENA market.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive of the EDB, said: "Outside the global topics of debate that we will participate in, Davos provides the delegation with a platform to raise the profile of Bahrain amongst the world's greatest and most influential political and economic thinkers and key private sector organizations. In short, it presents us with an opportunity to continue building our relationships to put Bahrain on the map as a centre of excellence in the Gulf and broaden understanding of Bahrain as a fast growing economy."