Bahrain was ranked among the top 20 global economies in attracting direct investment, according to the Financial Times’ Greenfield FDI Performance Index 2021. Bahrain ranked 15th among 84 countries from around the world that were included in the report. The Kingdom also ranked second in the Gulf and third in the Middle East and North Africa. According to the index, Bahrain obtained 3.23 points and a rating of above 1, which reflects the relatively large contribution of direct investments to the Kingdom’s economy. The report compares the size of the economies of countries and the direct investments that were attracted in 2020. The Kingdom climbed 12 positions from its previous global rating of 27. The five most prominent global economies in attracting direct investment included Costa Rica, Lithuania, the UAE, Singapore, and Estonia.
Bahrain’s high ranking regionally and globally in attracting direct investments reflects the effectiveness of the strategic plan adopted by the Economic Development Board and its efforts alongside Team Bahrain partners to attract direct investments and create jobs despite the pandemic, the statement said. It also gives an indication of the extent of development and openness of the business environment in the Kingdom and its competitive advantages that attract the attention of investors from all over the world, it added.