Oxford Business Group launches its authoritative the report: Bahrain 2008

The publication, with an international distribution of 73,000, is an invaluable guide to the many facets of Bahrain, including its macroeconomics, infrastructure, political landscape, banking and sectoral developments, and presents a remarkably in-depth profile of the country.

It features a series of exclusive interviews with leading political and economic figures conducted by a team of OBG analysts based in Bahrain for six months. These include, the Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, focussing on balancing progress and reform; the Minister of Finance, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa; the Minister of Information, Jehad Bukamal; the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, Rasheed M. Al Maraj, examining the impact of the global credit crunch on the country's banking sector; Head of the European Commission's Delegation to the Gulf Cooperation Council ,Bernard Savage, offering his perception of the growing ties between Europe and the Gulf; former Director General of the World Trade Organization, Mike Moore, examining the role of the GCC in the global economy; and the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, talking of the GCC's growing appetite for Indian investments.

The publication also features a roundtable interview in the banking chapter, with Abdul Razak Al Qassim, CEO, National Bank of Bahrain; Abdulkarim Bucheery, Acting General Manager, BBK; Michael Lee, CEO, Ithmaar Bank; Iqbal Mamdani, CEO, TAIB Bank and an Islamic Financial Services Roundtable, with Yousif Taqi, CEO, Al Salam Bank; Nabil Hadi, CEO, Capivest; Abdulrahman Al Jasmi, Vice-Chairman & MD, Global Banking Corporation; Esam Janahi, Chairman, Gulf Finance House; Mohamed Al Mutaweh, GM, Al Baraka Islamic Bank

Oliver Cornock, OBG's Regional Editor, said:

'The economic growth and success of the ongoing diversification in Bahrain is hugely impressive.'

'Bahrain was the first country in the region to produce oil and is rightly acclaimed as the first to tackle the thorny issue of what to do when the hydrocarbons run-out. It was this acknowledgement and the policies that have been put in place over the years that have placed Bahrain in such a positive position.'

'Banking and financial services are making a major and growing contribution to GDP and in 1968 the country became the first in the region to build an aluminium smelter. So other aspects of the economy are maturing with the hydrocarbons businesses. Key to future success will be continuing along the path of diversification, which is one that Bahrain's neighbours are trying to emulate.

'Bumper revenues from hydrocarbons have led to huge surpluses of liquidity across the region. This, coupled with soaring commodities and raw material prices, have all been contributory factors to growing inflationary pressure. However, Bahrain appears to be in a relatively strong position to cope with this.'

The Report Bahrain 2008 is published in partnership with primary partner, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, with Securities and Investment Company (SICO) as capital markets partner, Ernst & Young as accountancy partner, and Qays H. Zu'bi Attorneys and Legal Consultants as legal affairs partner.

26% of subscribers to The Report: Bahrain 2008, considered the most extensive, independent, unbiased and authoritative review of Bahrain available, are in financial institutions, 21% in energy, 21% in IT and telecommunications, 18% in industry, and 9% in real estate and construction. 33% of them are in Europe, 26% in GCC, 18% in North America, 18% in North Africa and the Levant, and 5% in Asia.

Available in print form and online, it is part of the range of OBG's publications, which are renowned as leading sources of information on developing and emerging economies around the world.