A total of 11,782 women in Bahrain have benefited from Tamkeen's national development programmes that integrated them in the labour market.

The human capital development and training programmes were supported by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women chairwoman.

Bahraini women represent 47 per cent (10,567) of beneficiaries of Tamkeen, at a value of BD19 million.

This is in addition to the private sector support schemes, where women represent 22 per cent of beneficiaries of programmes.

These include enterprise development support, finance scheme, Mohasaba accounting and auditing services, business diversification and entrepreneurship events.

The total number of female entrepreneurs, who have benefited in these, is 1,215 at a value of BD5.6 million, representing 25 per cent of allocated budgets.

'Tamkeen has employed a significant number of women, as they represent 55 per cent of employees, with 76 per cent of this ratio holding managerial or professional positions,' said Tamkeen chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa.

'Last year, women benefited from 55 per cent of the total training opportunities and 40 per cent of female employees conducted business trips.'

He praised Tamkeen's strategic and long-term partnerships with various ministries and other government bodies such as its partnership with the Supreme Council for Women.

Tamkeen has also partnered with other organisations to help Bahraini women job-seekers to equip them with skills and technical support needed to join the workforce or to establish small to medium enterprises.

The initiative was endorsed through the launch of a BD1 million portfolio to support women empowerment scheme under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka.-TradeArabia News Service