Bahrain Bourse (BHB) continued its stakeholder engagement and awareness roadshow about the newly-launched Bahrain Investment Market (BIM), an equity market for growing business ventures in Bahrain and the wider MENA region.
BHB made a presentation on Wednesday for members of the Bahrain Family Business Association (BFBA) and Bahrain Businessmen’s Association (BBMA).
Speaking at the event, CEO of the Bahrain Bourse, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said "Family businesses and fast-growing entrepreneurial ventures stand to benefit greatly from the Bahrain Investment Market. Its model is designed to enable business owners to raise capital quickly and at a relatively low cost while remaining largely in control of management and decision-making processes."
Bahrain’s Investment Market, which was officially launched in March 2017 by the Bahrain Bourse, features easier admission and financial disclosure rules, access to global investors, guidance services through specialized professional advisory firms, a dedicated Tamkeen support programme, and many other benefits.
Family businesses remain a significant contributor to Arab economies. According to recent studies, family businesses account for about 85% of the Arab World’s non-oil GDP. In Bahrain, this category constitutes around 95% of all private sector businesses. 
President of the BFBA Khalid Kanoo said "Family businesses are strategically important to the national economy. Hence, it is critical to have initiatives such the Bahrain Investment Market which enable these businesses to enhance their corporate governance and scale up their operations in order to become more competitive in today’s globalized economy."
Chairman of the BBMA Ahmed bin Hindi said "One of the major factors which contribute to private sector growth is access to a wide range of financing sources that cater to a wide range of private sector segments. The Bahrain Investment Market is a welcome addition that will help fill an important financing gap for companies who want to publicly list but are not yet able to meet the Bahrain Bourse Mainboard’s criteria." 

Source: BNA