BAHRAIN GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
$26.5m Tamkeen Fund to Support SMEs [Jun 2]
“A new BD10 million ($26.5 million) Support Fund will soon help 1,000 small and medium businesses affected by the recession, Tamkeen officials have announced. It is being developed by a joint committee consisting of Tamkeen, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and General Federation of Workers Trade Unions. The new scheme is based on a study of the condition of Bahrain’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) conducted by KPMG at the end of last year, according to officials. It follows a series of protests by SME owners who are angered by a BD10 monthly fee that applies to every expatriate working in Bahrain. The fees are collected by Labour Market Regulatory Authority on behalf of the government. Eighty per cent of the fees go to Tamkeen to train Bahrainis for the work place, create jobs and support local businesses..” [Complete Report]
Bahrain Oil Field Output Surges to 2.7m Barrels [Jun 2]
“Average output from the Bahrain Oil Field rose over the first three months of this year to top 30,339 barrels per day (bpd), up from 30,030 last year. According to the first quarterly report for 2010, the overall production topped 2.731 million barrels of crude oil. The National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) yesterday released the periodic report which features significant indices on oil and gas trends in Bahrain. Bapco has stepped up efforts to upgrade the field and boost its average output. For this purpose Tatweer Petroleum Bahrain Field Development Company has been established to double oil and gas production. The Noga survey also showed overall quarterly production from the Abu Saafa Field topped 13.705m barrels, up from 13.475m barrels last year. This translates into a daily output of 152,280 barrels, up from 149,725 barrels last year..” [Complete Report]
Bahrain GCC Nominee Lauds King Abdullah [Jun 2]
“n his first interview since being nominated by Bahrain for the post of Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al-Zayani said on Monday that King Abdullah was resolved to “maintain the unity, stability and security of GCC states and strengthen the Council in the midst of the delicate circumstances the region and world are witnessing”. Al-Zayani, currently the head of Public Security at Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ efforts to unify the positions of Gulf states and Arabs represented “a turning point in the course of GCC and Arab joint work”. “I hope I am successful and capable of realizing the aspirations of the leaders,” Al-Zayani said..” [Complete Report]
Key Pearl Testing Role for Bahrain [Jun 2]
“Bahrain is spearheading international efforts to find ways to detect a new type of cultured pearls that cannot be distinguished from natural ones. The country’s Pearl and Gem Testing Laboratory was the first to uncover the strong resemblance between real pearls and the Keshi type of cultured pearls. It raised the issue at the World Jewellery Confederation’s last meeting, which was held in February in Munich, Germany. International delegates agreed that a committee, which yesterday met for the first time in Bahrain, develops scientific-based testing and identification methods. The meeting, held at the Industry and Commerce Ministry’s Diplomatic Area offices, is being attended by directors and experts from specialised pearl laboratories from across the world. Countries taking part include the US, Thailand, Switzerland, Italy, the UK and Japan..” [Complete Report]
