Bahrain is to host the inaugural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) forum initiated by the GCC ministerial committee for planning and development. It will be held from May 29 to 31.

The 'GCC Future Entrepreneurs' will create a platform for an invited audience from the public and private sectors from around the GCC to share their knowledge and skills to develop strategies for SMEs growth.

It is being organised by Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) and is supported by the Finance Ministry.

"We are honoured that Bahrain is hosting the first GCC Future Entrepreneurs Forum through a joint-organisational partnership between Bahrain Development Bank and the Finance Ministry," said BDB chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa.

"The forum is important not just for the GCC but also for Bahrain and this importance cannot be emphasised enough. Bahrain throughout its development has prioritised the need to invest in the human element as a key hub of the process of economic development.

"Over the years, the BDB has played an active role in this area by improving the level of services and funding and training programmes provided to support and assist SMEs," Shaikh Mohammed added.

The GCC Future Entrepreneurs is part of a long-term strategy to encourage and maintain growth within the GCC by encouraging future SMEs through the sharing of knowledge, skills and experiences to provide joint solutions to issues such as the provision of seed-capital, funding and advisory services.

The forum will aim to enhance cross-border trade to build vibrant and profitable SMEs and entrepreneurs of the future.

It will see an invited select audience of policy makers and businessmen and women sharing knowledge and practical skills as part of this process of economic development

"The GCC Future Entrepreneurs is not just a conference but a part of a movement to achieve an entrepreneurship vision for the future of the GCC," said BDB chief executive Nedhal Saleh Al Aujan.

"It welcomes new ideas, providing better support to our entrepreneurs and a more active public-private sector partnership," he added. – TradeArabia News Service