Bahrain, Jun 29 (GDN):  INTERNET phone software pioneer Skype yesterday launched its Middle East headquarters in Bahrain. Economic Development Board (EDB) chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa said the move came at a time when Bahrain was being recognised as a global leader in offering highly-advanced telecom solutions.

"The telecom and information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in Bahrain is very liberal and very advanced and the fact that a market leader like Skype has moved here testifies to that," he told a Press conference at the EDB's Seef headquarters.

"Bahrain's geographic position also provides unparalleled access to the Gulf region's trillion dollar market and that, too, has been a key reason for establishing a regional representative office here."

Though Skype, which allows users to make free voice and video calls via the Internet to other Skype users, has been available for use in Bahrain for nearly the past three years, it still remains blocked in the UAE, Oman and Kuwait.

"Skype is an innovative company and their decision to move here reflects the positive impact resulting from the economic reforms being driven forward by the EDB," said Shaikh Mohammed.

"In Bahrain we have long recognised the importance of ICT not just as an important sector in its own right but as an important enabler of continued economic growth, modernisation and competitiveness.

"Bahrain has invested in its infrastructure and people to maximise its strategic position as the gateway to the Gulf, which together with Bahrain's strong track record, robust and effective regulation and low operating costs, offers international businesses an attractive base to do business in and from."

Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain had been internationally recognised for its long term commitment to ICT both as a sector and an infrastructure to enable further business growth, with its latest ranking in the World Economic Forum Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010.

It made it into the top 30 economies, a climb of eight places, putting it at number 29 out of 133 economies worldwide.

"Bahrain was also ranked first in the Middle East and 13th out of 192 countries worldwide in the 2010 UN e-Government Report," said Shaikh Mohammed.

He said ICT was one of a number of sectors intending to grow as part of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and National Economic Strategy.

Skype Middle East business development manager Rouzbeh Pasha said Bahrain's liberal and advanced ICT infrastructure and policies, skilled local workforce and geographic position provided unparalleled access to the Gulf market.

"Bahrain provides one of the most energetic environments to support and encourage innovation - with a talented local workforce and forward-thinking economic development strategies that help support business and broaden regional presence," he said.

Mr Pasha said as a regional gateway, Bahrain was the ideal location from which to support Skype's global strategy of making it available to as many people as possible.

"The Middle East and Africa has a young, tech savvy population and we believe that Bahrain will play a central role in making Skype even more popular in the region," he said.