Tamkeen, Bahrain's labour fund, is supporting 50 Bahraini entrepreneurs at the Gulf International Industry Fair and Food & Hospitality Expos being held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Center.

The support was offered through the Growth Assistance Scheme, one of the schemes under Tamkeen's flagship Enterprise Development Support programme, which seeks to promote the productivity and competitiveness of the Bahraini enterprises, said a Tamkeen statement.

Due to the strong interest in last year’s events, Tamkeen increased the number of available seats to afford more enterprises in the manufacturing and food and hospitality sectors the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the market, compete with larger companies, and explore new marketing and investment opportunities.

The benefiting entrepreneurs, in turn, commended the level of support extended by Tamkeen, especially the smoothness of the application process.

Participating in the Gulf International Industry Fair, Mohammed Shaban, general manager of Bridge Industrial Services and Lulu Store for Maintenance Equipment, said he is currently enrolled in several Enterprise Development Support programmes.

'Tamkeen’s vision has enabled it to correctly diagnose the most pressing needs of Bahraini enterprises and help put them on the fast track towards growth and prosperity,' he remarked.

Furthermore, he commented that the application process was very clear, noting that the required paperwork serves to lend credibility to this national programme, protect public funds, and achieve the overall aim of the programme.

Founder and CEO of Orient Middle East Abdulla Rahma expressed his satisfaction with how his company has fared thus far, saying he already met with several companies from Bahrain and abroad to explore possible cooperation channels.

Rahma also appreciated Tamkeen’s role of re-investing in Bahrain’s business sector and human capital in a systematic and inventive manner to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.

Another participant, Mahmood Alhanafi owner of Dohat Alqassim which specialises in premium dates noted the ease of the application process, saying he received approval four days after competing the paperwork.

He said this experience, which marks his first participation in any exhibition ever, and the amount of interest from the public in his products has prompted him to consider applying for other Enterprise Development Programme schemes to grow his business properly.
 
'We examine and select a diverse group of events for the Growth Assistance Scheme to ensure the fair implementation of the programme while at the same time maximising the benefit to all sectors within Bahrain,' remarked Mohammed Bucheery, Private Sector Support senior manager.

'We have covered up to 90 per cent of the participation cost for 17 enterprises and 15 productive families in the Food & Hospitality Expo and up to 85 per cent for 18 enterprises in the Gulf International Industry Fair for a total of BD64,076 ($169,943) in these two exhibitions,' he added.

To date, Tamkeen has co-financed the participation of 396 Bahraini companies through the Growth Assistance Scheme in a number of major local and international exhibitions since the launch of the EDS programme.

The enterprises represented a wide range of sectors, including wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, ICT, agriculture, fisheries, construction, health, hospitality, education, technology and comprised the majority of the beneficiaries.-TradeArabia News Service