Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
US political strategist, communications and business marketing expert, Morris Reid has zeroed in on Bahrain as a market place of opportunity in the Middle East.
On a visit to Bahrain, Mr Reid who is presently the managing director of Washington-based BGR public relations firm, and has consulted leaders of countless Fortune 500 companies, said: "I believe that Bahrain is a market where you can test your opportunities and launch a business venture. In the US we place a lot of importance on big companies but small and medium sized businesses are actually the backbone of the economy.
"Many such businesses exist in Bahrain that are family-owned and present excellent business and trade opportunities."
As a staunch believer in capitalism Mr Reid opines that protectionism is not a way forward and doing business should be a two-way street with a level playing field.
He is adept at fostering business development programmes and specialises in launching partnerships. "People in the West see the Middle East as a region with petro-dollars where they come for a couple of years, make money and leave. But diversification of the market place and fostering long-term business relations should be the name of the game.
"Bahrain's proximity to Saudi Arabia makes it strategically well placed to do business and coupled with the fact that it has one of the most forward-thinking leaderships in the region makes it an excellent launching pad."
Mr Reid was introduced to the Middle East in 1993 as an aide to the late Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown during President Clinton's term in the White House. He became fascinated with the region and has travelled to the Middle East several times since then. He was the director of Vice-President Al Gore's office at the 1996 Democratic Convention and deputy director of Vice Presidential Operation for Clinton/Gore '96.
As a public relations executive he believes that major international events like the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has placed the kingdom on the map but complementing it with interesting events will take it to the next level.
"Adopting a wrap-around approach by perhaps organising conferences on the automotive industry or green engineering alongside the Formula One event would create a big splash."
As someone who has worked with high-profile individuals, government officials and corporate executives, Mr Reid is often used as a political and business marketing commentator on international television news networks.
Commenting on US President Barack Obama's first year in office, he said: "President Obama was too narrow on his focus on healthcare and didn't pivot away from it at the right time to focus on the issue of jobs.
"In today's economy, jobs are an integral issue because if you have a job you will be able to afford healthcare. His office has realised this after 14 months and is moving in the right direction now."
