Future plans include the listing of foreign companies and the ability to trade foreign and local debt securities on the exchange. Plans to list foreign companies and link to other Arab stock exchanges falls under the government s desire to make the BSE the premier stock exchange in the region. Foreign Investment Bahrain has aggressively encouraged foreign investment. Foreign investment has been primarily encouraged in sectors which are export-oriented and do not compete directly with local producers. Incentives offered to foreign investors include personal corporate tax exemption, no restriction on capital and profit repatriation, a developed infrastructure with excellent transportation and communication facilities, and duty free access to GCC member states for products manufactured in Bahrain.
Foreign firms receive the same investment incentives available to Bahraini companies.
Large scale infrastructure projects, major purchasing decisions are directed by the Ministry of Works, Power and Water, which extends invitations to select prequalified firms. For construction projects, construction firms must be registered with the Ministry of Works, Power and Water. In the case of smaller contracts, individual ministries and departments direct the prequalification process. Currently two free trade zones exist in Bahrain. Mina Sulman, Bahrain s major port, provides a free transit zone to facilitate the duty-free import of equipment and machinery.