The eGovernment Authority (eGA) and Bahrain Development Bank Group (BDB) have launched a key ICT programme for Bahraini youth.

The Technopreneur Bahrain programme aims to support and foster information and communications technology (ICT) innovative ideas and initiatives of Bahraini youths by providing training, consultancy, financing and incubation services, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Total cost of the project is BD178,360 ($470,086) with seed funding of up to BD20,000 per project, aiming to turn ideas into successful business ventures.

This announcement was made following the signing of a joint agreement yesterday at the eGA's premises in Muharraq.

The agreement was signed by and between eGA's chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed and BDB chief executive Nedhal Saleh Al Aujan.

The programme aims to encourage Bahraini youth to start their ICT businesses, foster innovation, develop their capabilities in this sector, create an enabling environment that supports and promotes this industry in the kingdom and helps create small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with high potential start-up feasibility in conjunction with eGA and BDB.

"We are delighted to launch this joint and leading initiative, in partnership with the eGA acting as a specialised entity tasked with upgrading eServices and information technology and communication in Bahrain," Al Aujan said.

"The BDB Group is a leading development financial institution, specifically designed to finance and develop the SMEs, boost entrepreneurship and provide support for young Bahrainis to help them turn their ideas into business ventures.

"Therefore, there has been a common vision between the involved parties, and we seek to put in place this vision through the adoption of this joint initiative which came as part of Economic Vision 2030 for Bahrain, given the economic, business and conceptual feasibility in the ICT industry at the local level as confirmed by several specialised studies," he added.

"The eGA is eager to encourage creativity in the ICT sector," Al Qaed said.

"We are keen to work on increasing partnerships and co-operation with the private sector and NGOs, aiming to support the initiatives towards developing the sector and contribute in showcasing Bahrain in the ICT worldwide map.

"This is all tailor-made to meet the requirements of eGA's National Strategy 2016 aimed at increasing community partnerships and co-operation with the private sector, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building through training specialists in different majors within the ICT.

“The Technopreneur Bahrain programme has a pivotal role in providing the labour market with ICT projects, enhancing employment opportunities, and selecting the national manpower, as it offers both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience that will enable the candidates to achieve a higher degree of professionalism and career development", he added. - TradeArabia News Service