Bahrain's oil and gas affairs minister has explained that ongoing investment in the country's oil and gas industry will work to boost other areas of the national economy.

Speaking ahead of the awarding of the tender for the exploration of the oil-rich Block-1 at the Bahrain Field, Dr Abdulhussain Mirza - who is also chairman of the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) - revealed that he has just published a book outlining his plans for improved relations between the national industry and overseas partners.

This literature is to be distributed among all businesses working in the sector, in addition to schools and universities in an effort to make the oil and gas industry "more transparent" as Bahrain looks to consolidate its position as one of the world's leading non-OPEC producers, the Gulf Daily New has revealed.

Furthermore, Dr Mirza added that the new initiative is also aimed at maintaining high levels of domestic employment within the oil and gas industry, with Bahrain currently boasting one of the highest percentage of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

"The sector is a pacesetter in Bahrainisation, the percentage of which, as at end last year, was 87 per cent of the total manpower. This is the highest among any other sector in the kingdom, and one of the highest in the GCC oil and gas industry," he said