More than 90 female entrepreneurs who specialise in locally-made products are showcasing their talent at a two-day event, which opened last night (August 5) at the Gulf hotel in Bahrain.

For the second year running Provision Events Bahrain has organised the Ramadan Galleria, which is seeing participants showcasing their products, which include ladies dresses, bags, accessories, handicrafts and homemade food.

The two-day ladies only event is being held under the patronage of Human Rights and Social Development Minister and acting Health Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi, who opened the exhibition at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf Convention Centre last night.

"Last year we held a smaller exhibition at the Mšvenpick Hotel and it was very successful, so we wanted to hold it again this year on a larger scale," said Provision Events Bahrain organising committee member Sara Taqi.

"More than 3,000 people attended the exhibition last year but we expect many more this year because it is on a larger scale. It's a ladies-only event because most of the shops in Bahrain are owned by women.”

"We have many different items on show, we have dresses, abayas, accessories and shoes and Gargoun items and jalabiyas. We have around 90 female participants taking part - almost all of them are Bahrainis plus a few from the GCC who have businesses here. We also have a few large companies including Batelco, which are our sponsors and then Bread Talk as the exclusive coffee shop and VIVA are also taking part,” Taqi added.

Taqi said the main reason for the exhibition was to give upcoming female entrepreneurs and newly established businesses an opportunity to expand their customer base and boost sales.

She said Bahrain's economy had suffered this year and many new businesses had been particularly affected and it was hoped that the exhibition would help give them the exposure they needed.

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"The economy has been down in Bahrain this year and we wanted to help boost these women's businesses," said Taqi. "These exhibitions make good advertising for these businesses. There are a lot of shops that are away from Manama and some people have home-based businesses, there are also those with hobbies and this exhibition gives them a chance to meet with new consumers.

"It also gives participants a very good chance to give buyers an opportunity to see their products and arrange a consignment agreement under which they can sell items in their shops. So this event helps to breed new businesses and give female entrepreneurs in Bahrain a chance to expand."

The exhibition will continue at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf Convention Centre tonight from 8pm to 1am.

Entrance is free and open to ladies only.

As part of Provision Events Bahrain's social responsibility a percentage of the sales will be donated to the Bahrain Down Syndrome Society. – TradeArabia News Service