The number of commercial registrations in Bahrain stood at 85,027 at the end of 2014, said a report.

Industry and Commerce Minister Zayed Al Zayani said that the updated lists, which are scrutinised by six inspectors, doesn't include any fictitious registrations, according to our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

Wholesale and retail trade, car repairs and family goods sectors topped the list with more than 27,000 registrations.

The ministry's updated records show the fishing sector to be at the bottom of the list with 28 registrations only.

The minister denied any plans to put any cap on commercial registrations which reflect Bahrain's economic growth.

Meanwhile, Akhbar Al Khaleej editor-in-chief Anwar Abdulrahman urged the minister to ensure Bahrainis, not foreigners, are the ones benefiting from new registrations in the sake of public interest.

He cast doubts on the figures released by the ministry.

'If you intensify inspections you will discover that most registrations are hired out to Asians,' he said, citing especially mechanical workshops, small industrial firms, cold stores and tailoring shops, which do not employ any Bahrainis.-TradeArabia News Service