My recent trip to a Gulf country was full of surprises. And they were indeed pleasant ones! For starters, imagine a nation (in that region!), which started women's education way back in the 1920s.

And as a result, women not only take up important government and corporate jobs but also drive cars wearing trendy western outfits! Well, if you aren't interested in social history or feminism, then how about an international economic agreement like signing of the Gulf's first Free Trade Agreement with the United States? Or how about a sports highlight like hosting of Middle East's first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix? Interesting? Read on.

The country I am talking about is all of the above and also the first country in the region to implement the privatisation law and also becoming the first country in the Arab world to fully liberalise its telecom industry? It serves as the gateway to the entire gulf market, which includes just half an hour's drive to GCC's biggest economy.

It also has an International Investment Park that offers Zero corporate tax over a guaranteed period with 100 percent foreign ownership and duty free access to GCC and 10 other Arab country markets as well as duty free imports of raw materials and equipment. Well, we are talking about the Kingdom of Bahrain, a small but progressive and liberal nation in the Gulf region.

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