Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB) has made the kingdom a data destination for Amazon and is now keen to leverage the Kingdom's telecoms  connectivity and IT knowledge pool to become a regional fintech hub, said a top official.

Khalid Al Rumaihi, CEO of EDB, was addressing the delegates of the 10th annual conference of chartered accountants of India yesterday (November 24) about Bahrain's management of change in its quest for progress.

Rumaihi applauded the inputs and professional efforts of the chartered accountants in building modern Bahrain.

Rumaihi was among a stellar cast of speakers from Bahrain who addressed an international audience of chartered accountants at the Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI).

Other speakers were Dr Adel Hubail, CEO of Bahrain Commercial Facilities who talked about redefining wealth and striving towards sustainable wealth and social equality and Murad Ali Murad, one of Bahrain's’ first cost accountants and a banking leader who spoke about the importance of accounting in maintaining transparency and powering growth.

“Accounting is the centre of any business - if treated with respect and discipline, the field paves the way for greater economic growth and stability regardless of domestic, regional or national crises,” said Murad.

“The professional engagement of the conference along with motivational insights by Kargil war veteran, Major D.P. Singh, who rebuilt his life as a marathon runner using his prosthetic leg, Life Coach CA Reeta Shah and a corporate look at one of the largest CSR ventures, the Akshaya Patra Foundation which serves 1.76 million mid-day meals to needy children every day, all made the conference a major success,” said CA Sridhar Seethapathy, chairperson of BCICAI.

Tally Solutions was the Annual Sponsors of BCICAI events and the Title Sponsor of the Conference was Grant Thornton Abdulaal. Event sponsors consisted of Ahli United Bank, BDO, Protiviti, KPMG, Al Haddad Motors, Fame Technology.

The Day Sponsor was Bahrain Commercial Facilities and Support Sponsors were American Express and Bahrain World Trade Centre. – TradeArabia News Service