Hopes that Bahrain will receive greater overseas investments for further industrialisation were strengthened with the recent launch of the $1.3 billion Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW). 

The kingdom’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Hassan Fakhro observed it would position Bahrain as the new world destination for industrial investments.
BIW, by encouraging business leaders from the region and around the world to invest in Bahrain, would create an influx of capital that would be redirected into the local economy, he said.
“In addition, BIW will boost the regional economy by attracting major international players and make the GCC region their new home.”
The success of the joint efforts of the Bahraini Government and Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) in setting up the wharf was an ideal example of collaboration between the public and private sectors, the minister observed.
The 1.7 million sq m project area is strategically located in the Hidd industrial Area, providing direct access to major sea, air and road networks, such as the new port of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman, Bahrain International Airport, King Fahad Causeway, and the newly planned causeway connection to Qatar, resulting in easy imports and exports of goods and a reduction of logistical requirements, which translates into direct cost reduction.
The wharf is divided into four major sectors, each fully equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the demands of all potential businesses. The sectors are: the Industrial Park of around 800,000 sq m, which will accommodate both medium and small industries; the Logistics Park of around 190,000 sq m, zoned for warehousing, storage, cold storage and redistribution of goods; the strategic Business Park across 320,000 sq m, well suited for low-rise office blocks, training centres, conference halls and other commercial facilities, and the Residential Park, which has an approximate area of 70,000 sq m and will accommodate a park management centre and living quarters for employees including workers and middle management along with a hotel.
Each park is spreadout and well positioned within the wharf, ensuring proper distribution and easy access to all other facilities within BIW.
BIW chairman Ahmed Al Qattan believes it will attract foreign investors from around the globe with all the advantages it offers, namely, the safe and secure economy of Bahrain, 100 per cent foreign ownership, the Free Trade Agreement with the US, a skilled workforce, advanced and liberal telecommunications and Bahrain’s strategic geographical location.
“This will surely result in an impact on the Bahraini economy directly, through the capital generated by foreign investment, and indirectly through the new opportunities that will be created in supporting services and industries such as finance, tourism, construction, trade, and others,” Qattan said.
“Bahrain is set to make its mark internationally and Bahrain Investment Wharf will be the catalyst.”