There was a letter in the GDN, rightly in my view, castigating the fact that the recent series of media awards, did not mention the GDN, which is Bahrain’s major English language daily.
Widely read, and not just by expats!
I know that sometimes there is a wry eyebrow raised and a gentle chuckle, that the GDN stands for the “Good News Daily,” and for its strong promotion of Bahrain, with only occasional criticism.
However, it often carries articles, which are critical, from the USA, UN agencies, human rights organisations, the IMF, and the media in other countries.
It’s column writers, also include people from Europe, the US, the UK and Australia, who have a chance to look at Bahrain, from afar.
And at the moment, there is indeed a lot of good news, on the horizon.
Sure there are caveats, particularly in relation to glowing real estate “promises,” and lavish models, those, “this is what it will looks like, when completed.” Appetite whetters!
Like the model of the five-star, $250 million Al Sahel Resort with canals and boats, even a Rialto-like bridge, like the hotel in Las Vegas, with its O Sole Mio, singing gondoliers!
It is already on “fast track.”
The EDB talked about the resilience of the Bahraini economy, with a growth projected at 3.9 per cent, only 1pc, by Qatar, and 1.5pc by the UAE, with negative growth in the non-oil sector, in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
A touted $26 billion, by 500 global investors in manufacture, logistics, health care, education and tourism sectors.
Gulf Air expanding its fleet, increasing spread, by flying new routes, increasing its services like to London and Paris, among others.
Interestingly, no mention of low-cost operators, to bring in growing numbers of international backpack travellers, looking for three-star hotels, as advocated at an earlier Tourist Trade Conference.
The oil price is up, and may go even higher, given the continuing uncertainty about the Venezuelan supply, and about dealings with Iran under new US sanctions.
There is an investment of BD3, for post-operative, clinic houses, at a private health care facility,
Power and water output, set to rise “enormously,” in the next two years, presumably leading to a fall in consumer costs.
An offer of stakes in a new APM terminal in Bahrain, to be 20pc for the Initial Public Offer, (IPO).
At the recent Gulf Gateway Forum, Bahrain has set a projects target of $75bn and reinforced the message, yet again, Bahrain is “open for business.”
Lifestyle, openness, tolerance, huge drawcards.
There have been periodic calls by some MPs, suggesting expats can be milked for higher utilities costs and taxing repatriations of monies home.
Also calls that expats should pay higher registration costs for second vehicles, often necessary, for school runs, simple living requirements.
Makes expats feel unwelcome.
Fortunately, these wild calls have been promptly slapped down, by wiser heads, who value contributions expats make towards Bahrain.