Manama, Bahrain - Tuesday, 5th February 2013: Tamkeen's Enterprise Development Support Programme, Tamkeen's flagship Programme that seeks to enable enterprises in Bahrain to improve their efficiency and business sustainability, has exceeded its target with over 2,000 private sector enterprises served during 2012 alone.

With this milestone, the overall number of enterprises which benefited from the programme since its inception has reached well over 4,500 enterprises.

The achievement can be attributed to several modifications introduced by Tamkeen in order to facilitate access to the programme and streamline processes, including increasing staff handling the programme by three-fold, expanding the Enterprise Development Support Agency offices, introducing a dedicated toll-free call centre line (80008001), and most recently allowing enterprises the flexibility to choose any service provider for "Istishara", "Tasweeq" and "Jawda" schemes.

Tamkeen's Private Sector Support Senior Manager, Mohammed Bucheery said "The success of the programme reflects Tamkeen's continuous commitment to enhance the capabilities of Bahrainis and enterprises in Bahrain and development of the private sector. With over 2,000 businesses in 2012 provided with strategic financial and advisory support through these support programmes, the SME sector in Bahrain will be able to continue on the path of sustainable long-term growth."

Nearly half the enterprises served are start-ups and developing SMEs which have been in operation five years or less. Enterprises owned by women constituted around 11% of the total.

Breaking it down by sector, the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector was by far the most represented, constituting 30% of the total benefiting enterprises, followed by Construction (14%), Manufacturing (9%), and Food and Accommodation sectors (9%).

"Techania" was the most sought-after scheme, making up 46% of the total number of beneficiaries. It was followed by "Tarweej" (27%), "Tasweeq" (22%), "Istishara" (3%) and "Jawda" (2%).

"Istishara" enables business owners to make informed strategic business decisions, "Jawda" which enables business owners to implement world-class quality management systems, "Techania" to enable business owners to invest in modern equipment, "Tarweej" to enable enterprises to increase their visibility through local and international trade fairs and exhibitions, "Tasweeq" to enable business owners to create professional marketing and communication strategies.

Under these programmes, Tamkeen contributes 80% of the associated costs up to a maximum of BD. 15,000 for small enterprises and BD 20,000 for medium and large enterprises.

Business owners interested in enrolling in Tamkeen's Enterprise Development Support Programme can visit Tamkeen's Enterprise Development Support Agency at Meral Building located in Seef area, or call the aforementioned toll-free number or email edsa@tamkeen.bh. Website: www.tamkeen.bh/edsa.

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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.

As of end of 2012, Tamkeen's programmes have benefited 66,000 Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector, and allocated more than BD 292.5 million to the sector for its ongoing and completed programmes. In all, more than 100,000 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from these support programmes.

Tamkeen's human capital development programmes have benefited more than 47,000 Bahrainis, including funding training for nearly 30,000 Bahrainis. In addition, they enabled a further 3,500 Bahrainis to find gainful employment, and more than 2,000 Bahrainis to obtain professional certifications in their respective fields.

For enterprises, nearly 19,000 enterprises have benefited from Tamkeen's support programmes, including enabling more than 4,900 enterprises to get low-cost capital through its BD210 million financing portfolio, and more than 4,500 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 Authority.

For more information about our programmes, please call:
Tamkeen
Telephone:  17383333
Fax: 17382352
e-Mail: support@tamkeen.bh          
Website : www.tamkeen.bh 
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© Press Release 2013