Manama, Bahrain 02 February 2014:

Tamkeen and the Specific Council for Training in Retail (SCTR) organised an orientation session that was attended by 80 HR and training senior managers from various retail establishments, which highlighted the training programmes offered by the two organisations to develop Bahrainis' skills in the retail sector.

Suad Al-Shakrani, Tamkeen's Senior Manager for Human Capital Development, and Dr. Ehsan Ghurbal, Manager of Tamkeen's Career Progression Programme, reviewed Tamkeen's various training programmes, such as the Professional Certification Scheme, which enables Bahrainis to obtain internationally accredited certificates; the International Placement Programme, which provides Bahraini employees with the opportunity to gain international best practices and experience; and the Career Progression Programme, which offers business owners and their employees customised training solutions; in addition to other pioneering programmes and initiatives.

Tamkeen's Vice-President for Human Capital Development Mrs. Amal Al-Kooheji,  commented on the announcement: "This orientation session is part of Tamkeen's efforts to provide flexible training opportunities to help Bahrainis develop their skills and accelerate their careers. The meeting enabled us to showcase Tamkeen's programmes that can serve retail businesses and employees, which in turn enhance the retail sector as a whole."

SCTR Board Chairperson, Mrs. Amal Yousef Al-Moayyed, commented, "The meeting was held as a result of the MoU between the SCTR and Tamkeen to coordinate and integrate their long-term efforts to make Bahrainis the employees of choice in the retail sector. We thank Tamkeen for the support it provides for the training programmes that we create to develop this sector."

Addressing the representatives of the retail sector at the meeting, Mrs. Al-Moayyed added, "I hope that all of you will benefit from the various programmes offered by Tamkeen and the SCTR. It is our objective that you look to augment the training plans within your companies and support Bahrainis through continuous training. From my personal experience, I am confident that Bahrainis are capable of facing challenges and competing with foreign labor if they receive adequate support and training."

SCTR Executive Director, said, Mrs. Safiyah Al Shihab, "The meeting furthered cooperation between Tamkeen and the SCTR as the two organisations share the same objectives and provide similar services to the private sector in the form of training programmes that help Bahrainis develop their skills. We have an ongoing cooperation with Tamkeen on all our programmes, and we work closely together to convey the latest developments to the retail sector."

-Ends-

About Tamkeen
Tamkeen is an initiative funded by the private sector for the private sector, tasked with developing Bahrain's private sector and positioning it as the key driver of economic development. Established in August 2006, Tamkeen is one of the cornerstones of Bahrain's national reform initiatives and Bahrain Economic Vision.

Tamkeen has two primary objectives: Firstly, fostering the creation and development of enterprises, and secondly, providing support to enhance the productivity and growth of enterprises and individuals.

Under each of those objectives, certain mechanisms and innovative support initiatives have been put in place by Tamkeen to address current and future gaps for individuals and enterprises in the private sector that have been identified by thorough studies of the labour market landscape.

For Bahrainis, Tamkeen's programmes range from developing the skills and capabilities of Bahrain's human capital, to promoting sound workplace ethics and training on leadership and management best practices, among others. For enterprises, Tamkeen provides programmes which offer enterprises with subsidised business support services, facilitate access to financing to bridge the enterprise financing gap, and enable entrepreneurship, to name a few.

Tamkeen's programmes have benefited 98,000 Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector as of end of August, and more than 150,000 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from these support programmes.

In parallel, Tamkeen's programmes have played a key role in institutionalising new concepts within Bahrain's private sector, including SME and micro-financing, entrepreneurship as a viable career path, women empowerment, modern accounting and auditing systems within SMEs, and many other paradigms needed for a vibrant sustainable private sector.

Tamkeen's funds come from fees collected from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.

For more information about our programmes, please call:
Tamkeen
Telephone 17 383333
Fax17 382352
Email support@tamkeen.bh
Website www.tamkeen.bh
www.facebook.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://twitter.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://www.youtube.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://www.linkedin.com/company/tamkeen
http://instagram.com/TamkeenBahrain

© Press Release 2014