Latest news with #AlyaAlaali
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain startup ecosystem soars
Bahrain's startup ecosystem has demonstrated robust growth, with its value reaching an impressive $1.2 billion, marking a 13% compound annual growth compared to 2023, according to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) released yesterday by Startup Genome in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network at VivaTech. The report highlights the Kingdom's strong performance across several key metrics. MENA Region Recognition The GSER 2025 features Bahrain prominently, ranking it among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in both Funding, which assesses early-stage funding and investor activity, and Performance, which measures value created from exits and funding. The Kingdom also secured positions in the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems for Knowledge, reflecting its expertise and innovation. Strategic Partnerships Fueling Growth Startup Genome, the Global Entrepreneurship Network, and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have collaborated closely over recent years to monitor and benchmark Bahrain's startup ecosystem. This partnership aims to identify challenges and opportunities, informing strategic development plans to further foster ecosystem growth. Official Insights ' Bahrain possesses a well-connected ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and highly skilled tech talent that provide a strong foundation for growth,' stated Alya Alaali, Chief Strategy & Data Analytics Officer at The Labour Fund (Tamkeen). She affirmed Tamkeen's commitment to 'foster innovation by enabling skill development and providing access to funding for entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives.' Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome, echoed this sentiment, noting that 'Bahrain's consistent performance reflects a growing maturity and strategic focus on sectors like AI, Fintech, and Cybersecurity.' She added that Tamkeen's role remains 'pivotal - anchoring a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly environment that continues to strengthen Bahrain's innovation landscape and long-term competitiveness.' Key Sector Strengths Fintech, Cybersecurity, and AI were identified as crucial drivers for startup growth in Bahrain, underpinned by proactive regulation and targeted training programs. In 2024, the country advanced open banking and crypto licensing, and launched new infrastructure and education initiatives specifically to scale AI-driven innovation. Attractive Destination for Startups The report also highlighted Bahrain's appeal as a destination for startup expansion. The Kingdom offers a compelling entry point into the GCC and broader MENA markets, combining regional accessibility with comparatively low operational costs for startups. The ecosystem benefits from targeted SME policies, active accelerators, and a steady stream of new initiatives, including over 130 startup events in 2024 and recent expansions by regional tech players such as Tamara.
Biz Bahrain
2 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain marks 13% Ecosystem Value Growth this year
Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network has released its flagship report – the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) – today at VivaTech, Paris. The Kingdom of Bahrain is featured in the GSER 2025 report, highlighting its strong performance across several key metrics. Bahrain's startup ecosystem generated $1.2 billion in Ecosystem Value—reflecting a 13% compound annual growth compared to the GSER 2023 period. In addition, the Kingdom of Bahrain ranked among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in both Funding (early-stage funding and investor activity) and Performance (value created from exits and funding), and secured positions in the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems for Knowledge. Startup Genome, the Global Entrepreneurship Network and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have been working closely together over the past years to monitor and benchmark Bahrain's startup ecosystem, identifying challenges and opportunities that can inform strategic development plans to foster ecosystem growth. Commenting on the report findings, Ms. Alya Alaali Chief Strategy & Data Analytics Officer at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) stated: 'Bahrain possesses a well-connected ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and highly skilled tech talent that provide a strong foundation for growth.' She continued: 'We remain committed to foster innovation by enabling skill development and providing access to funding for entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives.' In addition, Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome stated: 'Bahrain's consistent performance reflects a growing maturity and strategic focus on sectors like AI, Fintech, and Cybersecurity. The ecosystem offers startups a cost-effective, high-quality launchpad for early-stage innovation, underpinned by strong connectivity and accessibility. Tamkeen's role remains pivotal – anchoring a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly environment that continues to strengthen Bahrain's innovation landscape and long-term competitiveness.' In the report, several sector drivers were prominent and crucial for startup growth. Fintech, Cybersecurity, and AI are key strengths of Bahrain's startup ecosystem, supported by proactive regulation and targeted training programs. In 2024, the country advanced open banking and crypto licensing, and launched new infrastructure and education initiatives to scale AI-driven innovation. The report also highlighted the factors that make Bahrain an attractive destination for startup growth. The Kingdom offers a compelling entry point into the GCC and wider MENA markets, combining regional accessibility with comparatively low startup operational costs. The ecosystem is supported by targeted SME policies, active accelerators, and a steady stream of new initiatives, including 130+ startup events in 2024 and recent expansions by regional tech players such as Tamara. The 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) offers in-depth analysis of global and regional startup ecosystems, highlighting key trends, investment patterns, and policy strategies. Based on over a decade of research and contributions from 65+ countries, the report ranks the Top 40 global and Top 100 emerging ecosystems, providing data-driven insights and practical guidance for policymakers, ecosystem leaders, and founders to support startup growth and economic development. Widely regarded as the world's most comprehensive research on startup ecosystems, the GSER leverages the largest quality-controlled dataset in the industry, analyzing data from over 5 million companies across 350+ entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems worldwide. View the full report here –
Daily Tribune
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Tamkeen, World Bank shape workforce reform
TDT | Manama Tamkeen and the World Bank held a three-day workshop in Manama aimed at aligning Bahrain's labour market strategies with global trends and challenges. The event brought together 55 professionals from major ministries and economic bodies, highlighting the need for inter-ministerial coordination in workforce reform and upskilling initiatives. The sessions covered training, labour policies, and economic inclusion of women, featuring discussions led by local officials and World Bank experts. The workshop was designed to create a shared understanding of how Bahrain can enhance its labour market resilience through policy innovation and collaboration. Collaborative Insights Alya Alaali, Chief Strategy & Data Analytics Officer at Tamkeen, noted that the initiative underscored Bahrain's efforts to benchmark its employment policies against international standards. 'Initiatives like this significantly enhance our understanding of the labour market and the ongoing changes within it,' she said, emphasising Tamkeen's focus on shaping evidence-based decisions. She also pointed to the role of such workshops in strengthening ties between government entities, forming part of Tamkeen's broader strategy to support Bahrain's labour ecosystem. World Bank Perspective The World Bank's GCC Country Director, Safaa El-Tayeb El-Kogali, highlighted the value of technical collaboration and knowledge sharing in the reform process. 'This joint inter-ministerial labour market workshop has served as an invaluable platform for exchanging insights on labour market trends, challenges, and policy solutions,' she said. She noted that jobs are now a core priority for the World Bank's development agenda, and that such joint platforms are timely for countries looking to modernise their employment strategies. Path to Reform Participants included representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Sustainable Development, LMRA, EDB and others, making the event a key policy convergence point. Sessions touched on economic inclusion, regulatory frameworks, and future skills, reinforcing Bahrain's ambition to build a resilient and adaptive labour market.
