Latest news with #AliSaqer
Daily Tribune
19-03-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MPs urge Tamkeen to fund AI businesses and train Bahraini tech innovators
Parliament yesterday backed a proposal urging Tamkeen to put money into artificial intelligence businesses, agreeing that Bahrain should not fall behind in a field rapidly changing industries across the world. The proposal, tabled by Dr Munir Seroor and Ali Saqer, calls for direct support to firms working on AI applications, infrastructure, and training for Bahrainis. MPs argued that other countries were already well ahead, and Bahrain must act. 'Artificial intelligence is now part of daily life,' Seroor said. 'Governments everywhere are laying down the groundwork, and we need to do the same. Bahrain has the skill and ambition, but firms need backing to develop AI tools and bring in texpertise to train our people.' He added that AI could open doors for Bahrainis in fields where the country has long relied on expat workers. 'If given the right training, Bahrainis could move into cybersecurity, data analysis, AI-driven finance, and smart manufacturing,' he said. 'These aren't jobs that need years of study. With practical training, they can be ready in months.' Tamkeen, which already funds digital projects through schemes such as 'Start Your Business' and 'Business Growth', acknowledged AI's growing role but pointed to the backing it already provides. 'The speed at which artificial intelligence is advancing is striking,' said Tamkeen chief executive Maha Mufeez. 'Tamkeen continues to support businesses looking to adopt AI tools and expand training schemes.'
Daily Tribune
09-03-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MPs move to fast-track funding for competition authority
A seven-year funding delay has left Bahrain's Competition Authority powerless against monopolies, with MPs urging the government to unlock the necessary budget before trade and investment suffer further. A parliamentary committee has endorsed the proposal, with a vote set for Tuesday. The Protection and Promotion of Competition law, passed in 2018, called for the creation of an independent watchdog to keep markets fair and stop price-fixing and monopolisation. But without a budget, it has never been able to function. Delay MP Ali Saqer, one of the backers of the proposal, said the delay needed to be addressed. 'Ensuring a well-regulated competitive environment will balance economic competition with social justice, with the anticipated benefits of establishing the authority outweighing the expected costs,' he said in the explanatory memorandum. The law gives the authority full control over its own affairs, with oversight from the minister responsible for commerce. But Article 4 states it cannot operate until funding is made available. A 2019 royal decree named an administrative body to oversee the authority's functions temporarily, yet without proper backing, it has remained inactive. The MPs behind the proposal — Ali Saqer, Hisham Al Awadhi, Ahmed Qarata, Abdulla Al Rumaihi, and Maryam Al Dhaen — warned that the delay could weaken the economy, deter investors, and leave consumers with fewer protections. They argued that the authority was needed to curb major firms from throwing their weight around and pushing out smaller competitors. The Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, which reviewed the proposal, agreed with the MPs and backed the call for funding. It said getting the authority running would help stabilise the market and keep trade fair. The government has been urged to add the funds to the upcoming budget to avoid further hold-ups.
