Mona Almoayyed, Managing Director of Y. K. Almoayyed & Sons

Women and men in Bahrain are paid the same wages; there is no differentiation according to the labor law. On the other hand, for women there are lots of privileges. For example, for maternity with the new labor law it is 60 rather than 45 days.

Abdul Karim Ahmed Bucheery, Chief Executive of BBK Bahrain

Despite the crisis, banks are still sticking to Bahrain and if you think about the reason for this, Bahrain is situated almost exactly in the middle between the richest oil field in the world and the richest gas field in the world.

Sameera Rajab, Minister of State for Information

The freedom of speech is 100% guaranteed through constitutional texts. The new media law includes more details and privileges for journalists and media personnel, it also provides more protection of this freedom.

Shaikh Mohamed bin Isa Al-Khalifa, CEO of Batelco Group

Batelco has always been at the forefront of innovation. The leading telecom company in the Middle East has always strived to provide its markets with the latest technology and the recent launch of the 4G network in Bahrain only confirms Batelco's superiority and efforts to offer its customers the best services available. The company was able to grow its subscriber base to 7.8 million in 2012 and its recent acquisition of Cable & Wireless was finalized only a few days ago. Thus, Batelco is progressively establishing itself as a communications player of global relevance and Bahrain's most diversified international company.

Fawzi Ahmed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo

Today, we have about 6,000 people working for us Gulf-wide and about 700 people in Bahrain. We have seen the first two months of the year as encouraging and even though in January business is normally down we have seen encouraging results. So I personally believe we are on the right track and that we will have a good year in 2013.

Dr. Hassan A. Fakhro, Bahrain Minister of Industry & Trade

How much easier it is to be critical than correct (Disaeli). I would ask those who would criticize Bahrain, to look to their own countries

National Oil and Gas Authority, HE Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Bahrain Minister of Oil and Gas

Today, the income from oil and gas constitutes about 80% of the government's revenue. However, we were also the first GCC country to attempt diversification, in the 1960s and 70s. Thanks to those efforts, oil and gas now only constitute 24% of GDP at current prices (and 12% at constant prices).