Bahrain’s public debt rose by 10% at the end of this November, compared to that at the end of November of last year 2020.
Al-Watan newspaper said the Bahraini public debt rose to 14.41 billion dinars ($37 billion) by the end of November 2021. This is compared to about 13 billion dinars ($34 billion) for the same month in 2020.
Meanwhile, the profits of global, regional and local banking institutions amounted to 665 million dinars ($1.7 billion) in 2020. It is expected to rise during 2021.
Bahrain’s public debt
The balance of debts submitted by local retail banks to the government at the end of last November amounted to about 6.2 billion dinars ($16 billion).
The rise in public debt also comes with the support of the offering of government development bonds in the global and local markets with a total value of about 2.3 billion dinars ($6 billion), to pay off outstanding debts, finance the budget, and finance the international trade balance.
Government bonds are the largest investment pool for banks and investment companies to manage large liquidity in a safe and risk-free manner and with a stable and rewarding return.
They are public debt instruments, which any individual or institution can purchase through the Central Bank of Bahrain, or from the Bahrain Bourse when they are offered for public subscription, and then sell and buy them, and obtain annual returns guaranteed by the government. Bond issues are traded on the Bahrain Stock Exchange by sale and buy.
Government development bonds are also financial instruments issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain on behalf of the government. The government guarantees the issuance of development bonds and leasing instruments as a direct guarantee.
Foreign labor
In a related context, remittances of foreign workers in Bahrain decreased until the end of the third quarter of 2021.
Foreign worker remittances declined by 11% until the end of September, compared to last year.
Foreign workers remittances since the end of the third quarter of this year amounted to 707 million dinars ($1.8 billion). This is compared to 794 million dinars (two billion dollars) in the same period in 2020.
