Economy of Bahrain 67654 225894510 2008-07-15T22:13:12Z 72.229.99.37 /* Hydrocarbon industry */ links for ammonia and methanol According to the 2007 [[Index of Economic Freedom]] published by the [[Heritage Foundation]] and the [[Wall Street Journal]], [[Bahrain]] has the second most free economy in the Middle East and North Africa region [http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/Index/chapters/pdfs/index2007_RegionD_MiddleEast_NorthAfrica.pdf] and is thirty-ninth overall in the world. An alternative index, published by the [[Fraser Institute]], puts Bahrain in 44th place tied with 7 other countries. ==Macro-economic trend== This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Bahrain at market prices [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/data/dbcselm.cfm?G=2001 estimated] by the International Monetary Fund with figures in millions of Bahraini Dinars. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year || Gross Domestic Product || US Dollar Exchange || Inflation Index (2000=100) |- | 1980 || 1,158 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 79 |- | 1985 || 1,375 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 97 |- | 1990 || 1,703 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 94 |- | 1995 || 2,199 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 100 |- | 2000 || 2,996 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 100 |- | 2005 || 4,859 || 0.37 Bahraini Dinars || 104 |} For purchasing power parity comparisons, the US Dollar is exchanged at 0.30 Bahraini Dinars only. Average wages in 2007 hover around $110-133 per day. ==Balance of Payments== Bahrain's current account balance is characterized by surpluses in merchandise trade and international services, and a large deficit in [[unilateral]] transfers, which is accounted for by the country's large [[expatriate]] workforce sending home a portion of its earnings. In 2003 and 2004, the balance of payments performance improved due to rising oil prices and increased receipts from the services sector. As a result, the current account balance registered a surplus of US$219 million in 2003 and a surplus of US$442 million in 2004, compared with a deficit of US$35 million in 2002. Bahrain's gross international reserves increased substantially in 2004 to US$1.6 billion, compared with US$1.4 billion in the previous three years (2001-2003). ==Diversification== Though [http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/economics-business/variable-638.html Current GDP per capita] shrank by 2.4% in the Eighties, it bounced back to a growth of 36% in the Nineties as a result of successful diversification initiatives. Bahrain's urgency in embracing economic liberalisation is due to its need to diversify the economy away from its limited oil supplies. Unlike its Gulf neighbours, Bahrain has little oil wealth and the economy has expanded into [[banking]], heavy industries, [[retail]] and [[Tourism in Bahrain|tourism]]. The Kingdom is the main banking hub for the Gulf and a centre for Islamic finance, which has been attracted by the strong regulatory framework for the industry. According to the [[International Monetary Fund]]'s Financial System Stability Assessment of Bahrain's financial regulartory environment, published on [[6 March]] [[2006]], found: * The financial system is enjoying strong performance under favorable circumstances, and is likely to remain a major contributor to overall growth. The main risk stems from potential overheating in the economies of the region, but the system should be resilient to likely shocks. * Prudential regulations are modern and comprehensive, and supervision is generally effective, especially in the dominant banking sector. Supervisory capacity needs to be expanded in line with new regulations and to keep up with the growth and increasing sophistication of financial institutions. * The further expansion of the Islamic sector, the development of housing finance, and the deepening of securities markets are important for the future growth of the financial system. The banking and insurance sectors will eventually undergo consolidation.[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2006/cr0691.pdf] In 2005, Bahrain signed the [[US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement]], becoming the first Gulf state to sign such a bilateral [[trade agreement]] with the [[United States]]. A massive privatisation programme is underway to sell off key government assets: utilities, banks, financial services, and [[telecommunications]] have started to come under the control of the private sector. As a result the economy has been well positioned to exploit the extra revenues generated in the region thanks to the sustained high oil prices since 2002. In January 2006, the [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia]] cited Bahrain as the [http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails_snECO_article99455_cnt.html fastest growing economy] in the Arab world. Between 1981 and 1993, Bahrain Government expenditures increased by 64%. During that same time, government revenues continued to be largely dependent on the oil industry and increased by only 4%. Bahrain has at times received significant budgetary support and project grants from [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Kuwait]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]]. The government has used its modest oil revenues to build an advanced infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. Bahrain is a regional financial and business center. [[Tourism in Bahrain|Tourism]], especially from the region, has proved another significant source of income. Bahrain has benefited from the oil boom since 2001, with economic growth of 5.5%. It has succeeded in attracting investment from other Gulf states partly because it used the revenues of the 1970s-early 80s boom to invest in infrastructure development and other projects to improve the standard of living; health, education, housing, [[electricity]], water, and roads all received attention. The success of ventures such as the [[Bahrain Grand Prix]] has raised the Kingdom's international profile, and combined with the boom in [[Islamic banking]], has encouraged major airlines to resume services to the country, with [[Lufthansa]] announcing on [[14 March]] [[2006]] that it would schedule [http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=138106&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28360| three flights a week to Manama from Frankfurt]. As part of its efforts to build a modern economy, Bahrain has initiated a series of labour reforms under Minister of Labour [[Majeed Al Alawi]] in order to bring the labour market in to line with international standards. ==Investment== The stock [[market capitalisation]] of listed companies in Bahrain was valued at $17,364 million in 2005 by the [[World Bank]].[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20394793~menuPK:1192714~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html] ==Hydrocarbon industry== [[Petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], the only significant natural resources in Bahrain, dominate the economy and provide about 60% of budget revenues. Bahrain was the first Persian Gulf state to discover [[crude oil]]. Because of limited reserves, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy over the past decade. Bahrain has stabilized its oil production at about 40,000 barrels (6,400 m³) per day, and reserves are expected to last 10 to 15 years. The [[Bahrain Oil Company]] refinery was built in 1935, has a capacity of about 250,000 barrels (40,000 m³) per day, and was the first in the Persian Gulf. After selling 60% of the refinery to the state-owned [[Bahrain National Oil Company]] in 1980, [[Caltex]], a U.S. company, now owns 40%. Saudi Arabia provides most of the crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Bahrain also receives a large portion of the net output and revenues from Saudi Arabia's Abu Saafa offshore oilfield. The [[Bahrain National Gas Company]] operates a gas liquefaction plant that utilizes gas piped directly from Bahrain's oilfields. Gas reserves should last about 50 years at present rates of consumption. The Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company is a joint venture of the petrochemical industries of Kuwait, the Saudi [[Basic Industries Corporation]], and the Government of Bahrain. The plant, completed in 1985, produces [[ammonia]] and [[methanol]] for export. Bahrain's other industries include Aluminum Bahrain, which operates an aluminum smelter--the largest in the world with an annual production of about 525,000 metric tons --and related factories, such as the [[Aluminum Extrusion Company]] and the Gulf Aluminum Rolling Mill Company (GARMCO). Other plants include the Arab Iron and Steel Company's iron ore pelletizing plant (4 million tons annually) and a shipbuilding and repair yard. Bahrain's development as a major financial center has been the most widely heralded aspect of its diversification effort. International financial institutions operate in Bahrain, both offshore and onshore, without impediments. In 2001, Bahrain's central bank issued 15 new licenses. More than 100 offshore banking units and representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American firms. Bahrain's international airport is one of busiest in the Persian Gulf, serving 22 carriers. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. Internationally recognised Bahraini companies include [[Investcorp]], the venture capital firm credited with turning around the fortunes of [[Gucci]]. ==Economy - overview== In [[Bahrain]], [[petroleum]] production and processing account for about 60% of [[export]] receipts, 60% of [[government]] revenues, and 30% of [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]]. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of [[Petroleum|oil]] since 1985, for example, during and following the Persian [[Gulf crisis]] of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Persian Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported [[crude]]. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. <p>'''GDP:''' purchasing power parity - $14.08 billion (2005 est.) <p>'''GDP:''' official exchange rate - $11.58 billion (2005 est.) <p>'''GDP - real growth rate:''' 5.9% (2005 est.) <p>'''GDP - per capita:''' purchasing power parity - $20,500 (2005 est.) <p>'''GDP - composition by sector:''' <br>''agriculture:'' 1% <br>''industry:'' 46% <br>''services:'' 53% (1996 est.) <p>'''Population below poverty line:''' NA% <p>'''Household income or consumption by percentage share:''' <br>''lowest 10%:'' NA% <br>''highest 10%:'' NA% <p>'''Inflation rate (consumer prices):''' 0.5% (1998 est.) <p>'''Labor force:''' 295,000 (1998 est.) <br>''note:'' 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) <p>'''Labor force - by occupation:''' industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.) <p>'''Unemployment rate:''' 15% (1998 est.) <p>'''Budget:''' <br>''revenues:'' $1.5 billion <br>''expenditures:'' $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998) <p>'''Industries:''' [[petroleum]] processing and refining, [[aluminium]] smelting, [[offshore banking]], [[ship]] repairing; [[tourism]] <p>'''Industrial production growth rate:''' 3.4% (1995) <p>'''Electricity - production:''' 4,770 GWh (1998) <p>'''Electricity - production by source:''' <br>''fossil fuel:'' 100% <br>''hydro:'' 0% <br>''nuclear:'' 0% <br>''other:'' 0% (1998) <p>'''Electricity - consumption:''' 1,090 GWh (1999) <p>'''Electricity - exports:''' 0 kWh (1998) <p>'''Electricity - imports:''' 0 kWh (1998) <p>'''Agriculture - products:''' [[fruit]], [[vegetable]]s; [[poultry]], [[dairy product]]s; [[shrimp]], [[fish]] <p>'''Exports:''' $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998) <p>'''Exports - commodities:''' [[petroleum]] and petroleum products 61%, [[aluminum]] 7% <p>'''Exports - partners:''' [[India]] 18%, [[Japan]] 11%, [[Saudi Arabia]] 8%, [[South Korea]] 7%, [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] 5% (1997) <p>'''Imports:''' $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998) <p>'''Imports - commodities:''' nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% <p>'''Imports - partners:''' [[Saudi Arabia]] 45%, [[United States]] 10%, [[United Kingdom]] 6%, [[Japan]] 5%, [[Germany]] 4% (1997) <p>'''Debt - external:''' $2 billion (1997) <p>'''Economic aid - recipient:''' $48.4 million (1995) <p>'''Currency:''' 1 [[Bahraini dinar]] (BD) = 1,000 [[fils]] <p>'''Exchange rates:''' Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate) <p>'''Fiscal year:''' calendar year ==Taxation== [[Taxation]] and import laws apply equally to Bahraini and foreign-owned companies, and [[foreign investors]] must comply with the same requirements and legislation as local firms. [[Oil]] and gas companies are taxed 46 percent on income derived from the sale of [[hydrocarbons]] and derivative products. There is no personal income tax in Bahrain. Employers and workers must pay social insurance contributions as follows:<br /> (1) for old-age, disability and survivor protection: for Bahraini employees, employers pay 10% of salary plus constant allowances, workers pay 5% plus constant allowances; for non-Bahraini employees, employers pay 3% of salary plus constant allowances (then being entitled only to employment injury benefits).<br /> (2) for unemployment insurance: since June 1, 2007, all wages are subject to a 2% tax, paid for equally by the employer and the employee, applicable both to nationals and non-citizens and supplemented by a government contribution of 1%. This makes Bahrain the first of the [[Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf|GCC]] countries to implement a UI scheme. ==References== *{{factbook}} 2006 *{{StateDept}} 2003 *Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Labour [http://www.mol.gov.bh/MOL/En/Legislations/ListLaws.aspx?ChnlNm=Training%20Law Unemployment Insurance System]. Accessed [[November 6]] [[2007]]. ==External links== *[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=21261 Daily Star (Beirut), [[6 January]] [[2006]], ''Bahrain's 'honesty' keeps its economy freest in region''] *[http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/01/07/10009878.html Gulf News, [[7 January]] [[2006]], ''Bahrain ranked freest Arab economy''] {{WTO}} {{Asia in topic|Economy of}} [[Category:Economy of Bahrain| ]] [[Category:Economy of the Arab League]] [[Category:WTO member economies|Bahrain]] [[ar:اقتصاد البحرين]] [[fr:Économie du Bahreïn]] [[pt:Economia do Bahrein]] [[zh:巴林經濟]]