São Paulo – Bahrain was ranked as first in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for availability of advanced computer programming talent in Information and Computer Technology (ICT), according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Report 2020, Bahrain’s state news agency BNA reported.
The ITU is a specialized agency of the UN responsible for matters related to information and communication technologies including setting the international standards for ICT indicators. The annual report measures the level of digital transformation throughout the world and highlights the value and quality of ICT services provided by local operators.
As indicated by BNA, Bahrain stands out for providing accessible and affordable technology for its community, being the best in data value per GB within the GCC, and ranking 2nd in the Gulf (8th in the world) for affordability of basic mobile cellular packages.
Dalal Buhejji, executive director of Investments at the Economic Development Board, said the country continues to attract direct investments within the ICT sector which is driven by many factors such as the availability of ICT talent and the competitive cost of doing business in the kingdom.
According to Bujejji, last year Bahrain attracted over BD 300 million (USD 791 million) in direct investments which included many within the ICT sector. “Bahrain’s high ranking in this report is a testament to the kingdom’s strategy and investment to further advance the ICT sector,” she said.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
