Bahrain Hails IMF's Report on Kingdom's Unemployment Rate

General view of Manama, Bahrain. (Getty Images)
General view of Manama, Bahrain. (Getty Images)
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Bahrain Hails IMF's Report on Kingdom's Unemployment Rate

General view of Manama, Bahrain. (Getty Images)
General view of Manama, Bahrain. (Getty Images)

Bahrain's Labor Minister Jamil bin Muhammad Ali Humaidan underscored the international community’s confidence in the Kingdom's public aimed at sustaining growth in the labor market.

Humaidan's statements highlighted the indicators revealed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest report, which expected unemployment rate in Bahrain to drop to 4.4% during 2023.

He said the report was issued "by an independent and prestigious international body that relies on scientific approach in analyzing economic data and indicators," stressing that this is a factor that enhances the kingdom’s "position as an investment destination and a distinguished incubator for business environments."

The minister praised the cooperation between the IMF and Bahrain, and periodic meetings held by the fund with economic and labour authorities in the kingdom, state news agency BNA reported.

Humaidan stressed that the government will continue its efforts to enhance the business environment and implement many initiatives and programs that will enhance preference and give priority to citizens in the labor market.

He also affirmed that "all relevant authorities work to continue building on the achievements made in this regard to sustain the growth of employment rates in Bahrain."



ECB's Lagarde Says 2% Inflation Target in Reach

FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses the media after the ECB's Governing Council meeting, at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses the media after the ECB's Governing Council meeting, at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo
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ECB's Lagarde Says 2% Inflation Target in Reach

FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses the media after the ECB's Governing Council meeting, at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses the media after the ECB's Governing Council meeting, at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo

The European Central Bank's inflation target of 2% is in reach, ECB President Christine Lagarde was quoted as saying in an interview published on Saturday.

In the interview with China's Xinhua news agency earlier this week which was released on the ECB website, Lagarde said financial stability was a prerequisite for price stability.

"We are within reach of the 2% medium-term inflation target that we have defined as price stability," she said, according to Reuters.

Earlier this month, the ECB lowered its inflation forecasts for this year and next in the 20-nation euro zone, projecting inflation of 2.0% in 2025 and 1.6% in the coming year.

Lagarde also that the ECB's efforts to create a digital currency were getting to the point where, if lawmakers support the proposal, it should be ready to move forward.