Sunday, 18th November 2012:

As part of its commitment to engage with stakeholders to improve the programmes it provides to develop the private sector and enhance the employability of Bahrainis, Tamkeen today held an open stakeholder meeting at the crowne plaza hotel to share and discuss Tamkeen's 2013 Operational plan.

During the meeting, Tamkeen senior management, headed by Tamkeen's Chief Executive Mr. Mahmood Hashem Al-Kooheji, went through the plan with representatives from Tamkeen beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government agencies, and legislative bodies, amongst others.  This was followed by a discussion period for inquiries and feedback.

The public consultation session comes in line with Tamkeen's continuous efforts to engage with its' stakeholders and create a better understanding of Tamkeen's objectives, current and upcoming projects, processes, and role as a driver of economic development in accordance with Economic Vision 2030.

As per the Operational Plan for 2013, Tamkeen has allocated BD87 million for on-going and new projects and programmes which are set to serve more than 29,000 Bahrainis and private sector enterprises. This will cover 86 Human Capital Development programmes and 62 Private Sector Support programmes.  The plan is available for feedback from the public until the end of November on Tamkeen's official website (www.tamkeen.bh).

Among Tamkeen's 2012 achievements highlighted during the presentation was the launch of the Professional Certifications Scheme - a unique funding programme for more than 100 accredited professional certifications. This is in addition to the launch of 24 new education and training projects targeting 15,281 Bahrainis, and the launch of 47 programmes serving more than 23,909 enterprises. Among the other main achievements in 2012 was the addition of BD50million to the enterprise financing portfolio, increasing its total value to BD 199.5 million.

Among those in attendance, Shura Council second vice-chairman Dr Bahiya Al-Jishi said, "This is a positive step taken by Tamkeen to engage with its stakeholders and identify any and all issues and challenges which they may have, and hope this will be followed with more focused consultations. In our travels as members of the legislative body, we constantly use Tamkeen as an example of an initiative of which Bahrain can truly be proud, and one which we must all strongly support to help it reach its strategic objectives."

In addition, Mrs. Ahlam Janahi, President of the Bahrain Businesswomen Society stated, "The presentation demonstrates Tamkeen's commitment to transparency and stakeholder inclusion. As head of the Bahain Businesswomen Society, I am pleased to say that most of our members are in fact beneficiaries of Tamkeen's various support programmes, and we plan on discussing the key aspects of the plan presented today and give our feedback in due course."

Since its' inception in 2006, 53,000 Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector benefited from Tamkeen's programmes, which aim to enhance Bahrain's private sector and positioning it as the key driver of economic development. During that period, Tamkeen also re-injected more than BD 166 million into the sector. The total number of Bahrainis and enterprises expected to benefit from Tamkeen's various support programmes exceeds 100,000 beneficiaries.

-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 2030.

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. To date, Tamkeen has created 180 such support programmes.

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.

Together, these programmes have benefited 53,000 Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector, and re-injected more than BD 166 million into the sector. The total number of Bahrainis and enterprises expected to benefit from Tamkeen's various support programmes exceeds 100,000 beneficiaries.

Tamkeen's human capital development programmes have benefited more than 40,000 Bahrainis, including funding training for nearly 22,000 Bahrainis, and enabling another 3,500 Bahrainis to find gainful employment and more than 1,000 Bahrainis to obtain professional certifications in their respective fields.

For enterprises, Tamkeen have supported well over 16,000 enterprises, including enabling more than 4,500 enterprises to access low-cost capital through its BD 199.5 million financing portfolio, and an additional 4,000 enterprises to enhance their performance through its subsidised business support services.

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 50% of the fees collected from the Labour Market Regulatory

For more information about our programmes, please call:
Marketing Communication department
Tamkeen
Telephone:  17383333
Fax: 17382352
e-Mail : support@tamkeen.bh      
Website : www.tamkeen.bh
http://www.facebook.com/TamkeenBahrain  
http://twitter.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://www.youtube.com/TamkeenBahrain           

© Press Release 2012