Bahrain's Hidd area has ranked first globally in the Transport and Warehousing Cost Effectiveness category according to the Transport and Warehousing Cities of the Future ranking, produced by fDi Intelligence – a specialist division of the Financial Times. 

 

Bahrain' strong performance in a sector traditionally dominated by the Asia-Pacific region comes in spite of a global supply chain disruption owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, said a statement.

 

In this category, a range of data points were examined such as the cost of construction permits, fuel prices, electricity prices, and tax rates amongst others. Bahrain was also ranked in the top 10 for the Economic Potential category. 

 

Bahrain is one of the region’s most cost-effective distribution hubs. According to the KPMG Cost of Doing Business Report 2019, Bahrain offers up to 43% operational costs savings, and 33% savings in living costs when compared to the region, as well as zero corporate and income tax and no free zone restrictions. 

 

Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed commented: “Bahrain has long prided itself in offering the many global manufacturing and logistics players a place to call home with some of the most competitive setup and operating costs in the GCC. We are therefore delighted that the area in Hidd has been ranked so highly by fDi Intelligence for cost effectiveness in the Transport and Warehousing sectors – a testament to the Kingdom’s reputation as the region’s transport and logistics hub. 

 

“The year 2020 has been a challenging year for transport and logistics globally, but thanks to Bahrain’s strategic location at the nexus of the Middle East and our technologically streamlined customs processes, we have been able not just to maintain the continued flow of cross-border trade but enhance it, seeing a 13.5% year-on-year surge of shipments into Khalifa Bin Salman port in the first nine months of 2020. In 2021, we look forward to building on the successes of 2020, and welcoming many more global transport and logistics players seeking an efficient and cost-competitive gateway to the region’s largest market and beyond.”

 

Located at the nexus of the Middle East, Bahrain has earned a reputation as the region’s transport and logistics hub and is fast emerging as the main regional distribution and fulfilment centre hub. The Covid-19 pandemic has catalysed the uptake of technology in these sectors, including the launch a first-of-its-kind "SmartHub" logistics warehouse for pharmaceuticals and food to be headquartered in Bahrain to serve the GCC market.  - TradeArabia News Service