Bahrain is looking to become a gateway "to the wider GCC that is currently estimated to have a combined gross domestic product of $1 trillion", according to a senior government official.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, adviser to HRH the Crown Prince for political and economic affairs and board member of the Economic Development Board said Bahrain's government has invited Malaysia's business community to invest in the kingdom's infrastructure, Islamic finance and manufacturing sectors.

Shaikh Mohammed said the country is looking to expand its government spending budget and hopes that Malaysian investors will be able to work with the country.

"This expansionary budget is likely to have a strong stimulus effect, with particular investment being made in social housing and infrastructure spending," he said in an interview with Malaysia's Bernama news agency.

"There are a number of opportunities in Bahrain and, through Bahrain, to the wider GCC, in particular through trade and investment in construction, agriculture, food production, ICT, education, science and technology as well as tourism," he said. – TradeArabia News Service