Bahrain's GDP reached $33.51bln in 2018

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Bahrain's economy grew 1.8 per cent last year.

It was announced during the weekly Cabinet session, chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached BD12.6 billion in 2018.

Meanwhile, the overall volume of non-oil trade reached BD8.4bn, up by 11pc from 2017.

The Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry also issued 60 industrial investment licences worth BD56 million last year.

Details emerged after it was previously announced that the non-oil sector grew 3.2pc during the fourth quarter of 2018 and total growth was up 4.6pc, compared with the same period in 2017.

Overall, the non-oil sector grew by 2.6pc in 2018.

- Bahrain has added Costa Rica, Honduras and Montenegro to a list of countries whose citizens qualify for online visas, taking the overall number to 119 states worldwide.

Visitors from Ukraine also obtain visas on arrival, bringing the overall number of nationalities that qualify to 69.

Meanwhile, Indian nationals can get visas on arrival if they hold valid entry visas for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, the EU (Schengen visas) or US residency.

Visitors from some other countries are also due to be granted visas on arrival if they meet the above conditions, after the Cabinet endorsed two edicts due to be issued on the topic by the Interior Minister.

- Orders to expand the scope of alternative punishments in Bahrain have been issued by the Premier.

It follows Sunday’s decision by His Majesty King Hamad to reinstate the nationality of 551 convicts, whose citizenships were previously revoked by court orders.

The Prime Minister backed that decision yesterday.

- Danish firm Arla Foods has been given the green light to operate in Bahrain without a local partner.

It will be allowed to import and sell food products and beverages.

Arla Foods has already acquired the Middle East and Africa cheese business Kraft from Mondelez International.

The exemption will enable the company to continue the activities of Mondelez Bahrain and use the country as a hub for distribution of its products.

- The Cabinet approved 12 agreements between Bahrain and a number of friendly countries.

They included deals with Kuwait in the fields of media, agriculture, marine wealth, sports, culture, environmental protection, ports and maritime navigation. Five agreements with France in media, education, renewable energy and export development were also given the green light.

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