MANAMA – In a global first, Bahrain has enacted the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), developed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The move is part of a series of sweeping reforms aimed at bolstering the digital readiness of the GGC region’s $1.5 trillion economy.

In strategic cooperation with the UNCITRAL Secretariat, Bahrain also revised its existing Electronic Transactions Law with new provisions that align with the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts and renamed it the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law.

A 2018 report by KPMG titled ‘The Cost of Doing Business in the GCC’ in the ICT sector recognized Bahrain as having the most liberalized and competitive ICT sector in the region with the lowest costs for critical metrics, such as cross-border internet connectivity. While building on this foundation, the new laws further enhance the country’s competitiveness on a global scale. The overall benefits of the legislations include:

• Electronic Transferable Records Law – introduces electronic transferable records that are functionally equivalent to commercial documents and instruments issued on paper, such as bills of lading, bills of exchange, checks, promissory notes and warehouse receipts. These electronic documents allow the person who holds them to claim payment of a sum of money or delivery of certain goods, enabling the merger of the finance and logistics supply chains in a single data workflow.

• Electronic Communications and Transactions Law – updates the current electronic transactions law and promotes a wider use of electronic communications in business.

Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), said: “Bahrain continues to lead the way in digital reforms. The latest achievement of being the first country in the world to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records gives us an unrivalled advantage in the GCC region. The new laws are a key step forward in achieving the Bahrain Vision 2030 and The Economic Vision 2030 for Bahrain.”

Electronic transferable records and transactions offer unprecedented flexibility, speed, security and scope, covering the entire gamut of electronic commerce, including distributed ledgers such as blockchain. These capabilities support the goals set by public-private partnership-led initiatives such as Team Bahrain, which has succeeded in attracting investments from leading multinationals into the country.

Khalid Al Rumaihi added: “From a regional perspective, Bahrain has achieved many firsts in its 47-year history – from discovering oil to diversifying its economy, as well as driving innovation through the GCC region’s first fintech sandbox. We are confident that the new legislations will revolutionize the way we do business, develop talent and create a sustainable trading environment.”

Luca Castellani, Secretary of Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce) of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), noted: “Bahrain is the first country in the world to enact the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, which establishes a modern legislative framework for a digital-first economy by legally enabling, for example, the use of blockchain in fintech and logistics. The adoption of UNCITRAL texts, including the incorporation of additional provisions in the revised Electronic Transactions Law, helps creating confidence among overseas traders and investors that Bahrain is committed to upholding modern commercial law standards and places Bahrain at the forefront of innovation and business-friendliness.”

Bahrain is at the forefront of economic liberalization in the GCC region, demonstrated by reforms such as allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership of businesses across various sectors, from arts and entertainment to telecoms, manufacturing and real estate. Notably, Investment levels in Bahrain reached a new high, around $830 million in 2018, making it one of the region’s fastest-growing economies. — SG