Aspiring Bahraini entrepreneurs and business brains are being invited to take part in a week-long series of events aimed at nurturing and developing entrepreneurial skills.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) will be recognised in over 120 countries between November 14 and 20.

Events in Bahrain will be organised, for the third successive year, by the local chapter of the Young Arab Leaders (YAL).

It is hoped that the programme, which falls in line with YAL's aim to create a culture of entrepreneurship in the Arab world, will help shed light on local business success stories and connect aspiring business owners with potential mentors.

Following the success of GEW 2010, where 1,492 Bahrainis took part in 11 events, YAL Bahrain is keen to extend its outreach even further this year.

The programme of signature events for this year's GEW was announced during a press conference at the Economic Development Board offices in Seef yesterday.

The week kicks off on November 14 with the 'Mentorship Madness' networking dinner and continues on November 15, with a workshop focusing on turning the talent of aspirants into a potentially viable career.

'Start Up Circuit' on November 16 will give budding entrepreneurs a step-by-step guide through the legal processes to be followed when starting up a business before the series concludes with an interactive presentation by entrepreneur, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organisation Talal Abu-Ghazaleh on November 17.

All events on this year's programme aim to inspire young entrepreneurs and connect them with others who are like-minded, so that ideas can be exchanged while also providing mentoring for the next generation of enterprising talent to help them pursue their dreams.

Present at the conference were YAL officials and representatives of the event's local partners, Bahrain Development Bank, First Bahrain, Unisono, Tamkeen and Obai and Hill.

Speaking ahead of the start of GEW 2011 in Bahrain, GEW president Jonathan Ortmans said young firms are the key to addressing high rates of youth unemployment in the Middle East.

'It is the risk-takers sharpening their skills during GEW events.

'They will expand human welfare and the economies throughout Bahrain and the Middle East,' Ortmans added. – TradeArabia News Service