  Join us for a breakfast briefing, featuring His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa CEO of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), highlighting the opportunities and overall climate for U.S. companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Kingdom of Bahrain is committed to establishing businesses in the sectors of finance, healthcare, manufacturing and industrial services, professional services, information and communication technology (ICT), training and education. The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) will assist U.S. businesses with the challenges of foreign investment through tax incentives. Bahrain offers 0% corporate and personal tax and 100% foreign asset ownership for new companies with a vested interest to foster business and trade relationships. Furthermore, Bahrain offers more competitive factors for production facilities than any other country in the Arabian Gulf. The Bahrain information and communication technology market is expected to reach $375 billion by 2010, due to the high demand for IT products and services from both public and private sectors. In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain hosts more financial institutions than any other country in the Arabian Gulf, with over 400 licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and 160 insurance companies including conventional and Islamic institutions. Bahrain has the strategic location and advanced infrastructure to serve clients in the wider Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Indian sub-continent. It boasts the opening of a new 1.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) port in 2009, it’s International Airport ranks as the top airport in the Middle East including roadways with customs free logistics zones to Saudi Arabia and soon to Qatar. The United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) complements and supports the private sector for economic development in new and emerging markets. 100 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products is duty free and Bahrain will continue and pledges to remove tariffs on the remaining handful of agricultural product lines by 2015. Date: June 15, 2010 Location: Federal Reserve Building - Houston Program: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.  |