Bahrain to encourage hedge fund expansion

Bahrain is keen to attract and grow the alternative asset management sector of financial services, says Sheikh Salman Isa Al-Khalifa, executive director of banking operations at the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Sheikh Al-Khalifa (above) says Bahrain is well placed to encourage the growth of the alternative asset management sector, particularly funds and managers that want to access other Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries. At present over 25% of gross domestic product (GDP) of Bahrain comes from financial services, a much higher percentage than oil. He also says Bahrain is a good base for funds to access other states in the Middle East and North Africa.

Sheikh Al-Khalifa made the comments at the