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Investment is prohibited or restricted for domestic and foreign investors in: gambling; alcoholic drinks manufacturing; narcotics manufacturing; weapons manufacturing; import of all types of waste and treatment; storage and dumping of radioactive materials and toxic waste in Bahrain; import, manufacturing, and dealing of asbestos and its by-products (not including asbestos removal); import and industrial use of restricted chemicals; pearl farming; cigarette manufacturing; import of automatic cigarette vending machines; postal services (exclusive to Bahrain Post).

Table 3.8 Restricted exports, 2014
HS Code: ...
Product description: Garbage, wastes
Authority: Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, and Wildlife Environment

The Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate (BSMD) within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) is the standardization body and the national enquiry point in Bahrain. The BSMD is responsible for standardization, metrology, conformity, and quality assurance. The BSMD prepares, revises, amends, and publishes approved Bahraini technical regulations and conformity assessments as well as Bahraini national standards, to meet international demands for quality, design, performance, safety and environmental impact of products and services. The BSMD also accepts and adopts, as appropriate, the technical regulations, standards, guides, recommendations of other foreign countries and of regional (Gulf and Arab States) and international organizations. The BSMD regulates eight product categories (Table 3.9).

Agriculture (including fishing) is a small sector in Bahrain's economy, contributing 0.3% of real GDP in 2012 and 1.2% of total employment. Bahrain's arable agricultural land (around 6,200 hectare in 2010), suffers from limited water resources, poor and declining soil, and unfavourable climate.

In recent years, Bahrain has recognized the importance of renewable energy sources as an alternative source of power. Two renewable energy projects are being implemented: the 5 MW solar plant in Awali, with roof panels and connection through a smart grid, is a joint-venture between BAPCO, NOGA and two U.S.-based firms, Caspian Energy Holdings and Petra Solar; and the second project is a combined solar/wind plant in the south with a capacity of 3 MW and 2MW for solar and wind, respectively.

The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) is the sole agency responsible for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in Bahrain. The EWA's policy objectives include, inter alia, to provide a reliable, cost effective, and quality supply of electricity and water; to maintain, develop, and improve the transmission and distribution network to ensure highest standards of efficiency and minimum energy los s; and to meet Bahrain's increasing demands for electricity and water consumption.

(…) Equitable and sustainable growth depends on implementing diversification and improved total factor productivity - enhancing structural reforms especially those aimed at addressing fiscal consolidation, tax reform and expenditure rationalization concerns. These and related reforms would increase the flexibility of the Malaysian economy and its ability to respond to growing external competition.

(…) The NEAC produced the New Economic Model for Malaysia (NEM) in 2010, which concluded that in order for Malaysia to achieve economic growth (with an income per capita target of US$15,000-20,000) on an inclusive and sustainable basis, an economic, social, and governmental transformation was required. (…)

(…) The economy continued to undergo a significant external rebalancing due to a decline in external surpluses, while policies continue to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in order to turn Malaysia into a high income country by 2020. (…)

The economic policies are aimed at bringing Malaysia closer towards its goal of becoming a high-income nation that is both inclusive and sustainable by 2020. (…)