CNN —Like many other Middle Eastern economies, Bahrain has been trying to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels. In October, the National Bank of Bahrain launched a Bitcoin investment fund, aimed at institutional investors — a first for the GCC. At the Gateway Gulf event, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism announced the construction of 16 new hotels totaling over 3,000 rooms. However Al Khalifa believes that the success of its GCC partners will ultimately prove beneficial for Bahrain. “All of us are working together to increase economic activity, increase the pie for the whole region, and this rising tide will lift all of the economies of the region.”

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Persons: ” Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CNN’s Richard, ”, ” Al Khalifa, —, Steffen Hertog, Abu Dhabi, Hertog, Al Khalifa Organizations: CNN, Bahrain’s, Finance, National, Gulf Cooperation Council, United, United Arab Emirates, GCC, World Bank, National Bank of, Tourism, London School of Economics, Political Science, “ Locations: Bahrain, Gateway, ” “ Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, National Bank of Bahrain, “ Dubai, Dubai, Abu, Saudi