Cisco Will Build Data Center in Bahrain

Cisco Systems (CSCO) will build an Internet data center in Bahrain as part of a broader agreement to provide equipment and network services in the island nation in the Persian Gulf. The facility will serve as a "regional hub" for Cisco's operations in the Gulf area, the company announced Tuesday.

Cisco also announced plans to establish an office in Bahrain and focus on recruiting new talent to address the growing business opportunites in the region. "These initiatives will strengthen our cooperation with global technology providers through a stronger local presence to grow the ICT industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and will help pave the way to attract direct foreign investments, a long-standing strategic objective of the government," said H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Atiyat Allah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Bahrain, who called the deal "essential to building the necessary capacity" to modernize the kingdom's economy.
 
"Bahrain's progressive regulatory environment has fuelled the growth of vital economic sectors, including telecoms, banking and financial services and construction," said Paul Mountford, president of emerging markets for Cisco. "Cisco is building on this platform by establishing a strong local presence to work closely with government leaders to strengthen the country's competitive position in the global economy and ensure its success going forward."

In a series of upcoming workshops, Cisco will collaborate with the Bahraini eGovernment Authority to highlight the role ICT can play in the overall education reform, the national health agenda, human capital development, public safety and security.