Manama, Jan. 5. (BNA) – Traders and businesswomen have expressed optimism that the pace of economic growth will be accelerated in 2013 due to the expected increase in government spending after the Finance Ministry received the first installment of the USD 10 billion GCC Development Fund, provided by four GCC countries for Bahrain.

In statements to “Akhbar Al-Khaleej”, published in today’s issue, they said that Tamkeen (Labour Fund)’s programmes have benefited a large number of economic sectors and helped the national economy withstand the global financial crisis in 2011 and 2012.

In a related context, investors in the conferences and exhibitions sector said that Bahrain will achieve the vision of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to promote Bahrain into a regional and global hub of the conferences and exhibitions industry, affirming that the functions to be hosted by the kingdom in 2013 exceed those of 2012.

WHQ