Nothing reflects the Bahraini government’s resolve to improve the country’s economy and ease of doing business better than a series of forthcoming reforms. The reforms, some already introduced and some underway, include new trust laws and limited liability partnership laws, a revised bankruptcy law, along with recalibrated policies on data privacy and sovereignty.
Once the impact of all these reforms are felt on the ground, the Kingdom’s business environment is expected to be even more conducive to startups and budding entrepreneurs.
John Kilmartin, the executive director of ICT at Bahrain’s Economic Development Board, said in a recent conversation with the media that the government’s growing emphasis on encouraging the startup community is inspired from the pivotal role entrepreneurs are playing in the growth of many major economies across the world.
He further stated that the Kingdom’s vibrant ecosystem where private and public figures cooperate closely to achieve their mutual goals of growth and development is a primal force that drives the success of its blooming startup ecosystem.
Kilmartin made these remarks on the sidelines of the Follow the Leaders conference at the Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research. Organized by Thinkers & Doers with support from the EDB and Tamkeen (labor fund), the event was conducted under the theme Boosting the Startup Ecosystem: A hub for entrepreneurs and investors.
According to Amandine Lepoutre, President at Thinkers & Doers, as many as 400 individuals and 100 startups from across the world participated in the conference. Additionally, there were many famed international speakers, business leaders, policymakers, incubators, and angel investors who shared their knowledge and insights with up and coming businesses.
“We are all very happy to see the great success of the event, with all the startups and investors, who have attended the event, and to witness what the booming ecosystems in the region have accomplished. We are all looking forward to coming back next year,” Lepoutre said.
