Latest news with #Tamkeen
Biz Bahrain
2 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Chairs Tamkeen's Q2 2025 Board of Directors Meeting
His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Educational Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), today chaired Tamkeen's Q2 2025 Board of Directors Meeting. The meeting reviewed Tamkeen's achievements during the first half of the year, outlined the strategic priorities for 2025, and provided updates on support extended through its three main packages: Employment Support, Career Development Support, and Enterprise Support. His Highness underscored the importance of investing in Bahraini talent to cultivate a skilled national workforce. This vision is pursued by creating further opportunities for Bahrainis to upskill and enhance their capabilities, empowering them to excel across various sectors, in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the unwavering efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. His Highness highlighted the importance of continuing to implement targeted initiatives that position Bahrainis as the first choice of employment, while equipping them for future-oriented jobs—particularly in fields requiring technical expertise and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, His Highness issued directives to launch programmes that support SMEs in adopting cutting-edge technologies to drive business growth. These efforts align with the previously announced initiative to train 50,000 Bahrainis in artificial intelligence, as outlined in the last Board of Directors meeting. During the meeting, Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, presented an overview of Tamkeen's accomplishments in the first half of the year. These included support for over 7,700 Bahrainis entering the labour market, more than 9,200 Bahrainis benefiting from training and career development initiatives, and assistance extended to over 3,600 enterprises across various sectors to foster growth, drive digital transformation, and enhance productivity. The Board was also briefed on key upcoming plans aligned with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for the year. These priorities focus on enhancing the competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping them with future-ready skills, driving enterprise growth and digitisation, and strengthening the broader ecosystem surrounding the labour market and private sector.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Focus on Upskilling Bahrainis and Supporting SMEs
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Chairs Tamkeen's Q2 Board Meeting His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Educational Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), chaired Tamkeen's second quarterly Board of Directors Meeting for 2025. The meeting reviewed Tamkeen's achievements during the first half of the year and outlined strategic priorities for the remainder of 2025. Updates were also shared on the progress of Tamkeen's core support pillars: Employment Support, Career Development Support, and Enterprise Support. Empowering Bahrainis for a Future-Ready Workforce HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman emphasized the importance of continued investment in Bahraini talent to build a skilled and competitive national workforce. He reaffirmed the commitment to create more opportunities for Bahrainis to develop their skills and thrive in various sectors, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He stressed the need for targeted initiatives that position Bahrainis as the top choice in the labour market, with a strong focus on preparing them for future jobs, particularly in fields requiring technical expertise and artificial intelligence. Support for SMEs and Technological Transformation In line with national efforts to promote innovation and competitiveness, HH Shaikh Isa issued directives to launch new programmes that enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to adopt advanced technologies, drive business growth, and enhance productivity. These directives complement an earlier initiative to train 50,000 Bahrainis in artificial intelligence, announced during the previous board meeting, as part of a broader digital transformation strategy. Over 7,700 Bahrainis Supported in the First Half of 2025 Tamkeen Chief Executive Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez presented a comprehensive report on the fund's progress in the first half of the year. Key highlights included: Strategic Priorities for 2025 The Board also reviewed upcoming initiatives aligned with Tamkeen's overarching goals for 2025. These include: The meeting reaffirmed Tamkeen's commitment to advancing Bahrain's vision for a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven economy.
Biz Bahrain
4 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
StartUp Bahrain Pitch competition announces new winners, celebrating more innovation in Bahrain's startup ecosystem
StartUp Bahrain, the leading platform for startups in the Kingdom of Bahrain supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), proudly hosted the most recent edition of the highly anticipated entrepreneurial series, StartUp Bahrain Pitch, highlighting rising founders from Bahrain's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event was hosted in collaboration with key industry stakeholders—including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB). The new edition builds on the remarkable success of the previous ones, which have helped cultivate a strong culture of innovation and creativity within Bahrain's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The recent edition featured a distinguished judging panel of industry experts and seasoned investors, including Fatma Sultan Bahwan, Chief Commercial Officer of AlJabr MENA and keynote speaker of the event, Sam Marchant, Partner at Inaugural, Karim Konsowa, Portfolio Manager at Hub71, and Laith Al-Khalili, Associate Director at Mumtalakat. The event featured a dynamic group of emerging Bahraini startups, including: Tammam, a smart order management app powered by AI that streamlines small-scale operations across food, retail, and beauty sectors; Rentat, a proptech platform that automates rent collection and enhances property management for both landlords and tenants; Safer, a travel-focused fintech solution offering a secure 'Buy Now, Pay Later' service for booking trips with ease and flexibility; and BizBay, a digital marketplace connecting buyers, sellers, and investors, simplifying exit processes and safeguarding investments—all through one unified platform. After a competitive round of pitches, the judging panel thoroughly evaluated the participating founders and their ideas, and announced this year's winning startups, awarding Tammam with first place, and BizBay with second place. Commenting on the occasion, Noor Alderazi, speaking on behalf of the winning team, said: 'We're proud to be part of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, an initiative that champions bold ideas and promising ventures. Winning first place is a great honor, and it gave us a valuable opportunity to showcase our work on a national platform among experts, investors, and startup ecosystem leaders.' Also sharing their thoughts, Ali AlSawad, representing the second-place winner, stated: 'We sincerely thank all the supporting entities and organizations that contributed to the success of this initiative. Being part of this experience offered us a valuable opportunity to connect with the startup community and explore new avenues for growth and development.'
Biz Bahrain
5 days ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Applications Open for Cohort 9 of 'Raise" to Empower Startup Founders in Investment Readiness
Spring Venture Services announced that applications are now open for the 9th cohort of 'Raise: The Art of Fundraising,' a two-week intensive bootcamp designed to equip startup founders with the skills and knowledge needed to secure investment and scale their businesses. The programme is supported by The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to prepare startups for institutional fundraising, with participation in the ongoing StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series as one milestone along the way. The programme is facilitated by Spring Venture Services, and global venture capital firm Salica Investments, providing founders with capital, expert in-house capability, and access to MENA's leading investors to increase the likelihood of startup success. Since its inception, 'Raise' has successfully conducted eight bootcamps in preparation for 16 StartUp Bahrain Pitch events, helping 114 startups refine their investor readiness and secure essential funding. The programme provides entrepreneurs with hands-on workshops, fireside chats, and one-on-one office hours, ensuring they gain a strong foundation in fundraising, pitching, and business strategy. A key highlight of the programme is the StartUp Bahrain Pitch Series, where participating startups will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses before an esteemed panel of leading regional venture capitalists and investors. These events are organised in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), and StartUp Bahrain. The events conclude with the announcement of the 2 winning startups, which receive a cash prize deployed against key milestones, along with potential further funding and support from programme partners. Commenting on the success of Raise, Ali Mohsen founder of DOO, a winner of the 16th edition of StartUp Bahrain Pitch, stated, 'Raise was instrumental in refining our fundraising strategy and connecting us with investors. The mentorship and expert guidance we received gave us the confidence and tools to take our business to the next level.' The upcoming cohort will feature enhanced networking opportunities and increased access to industry leaders, potential partners, and investors. Startups will also participate in an Investor Mixer, where they can pitch their businesses to a network of investors. Interested startups are encouraged to apply by visiting the programme page on [
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
17 Companies set sights on Saudi
TDT | Manama Seventeen Bahraini companies are preparing to establish a formal presence in the Saudi market through the Overseas Expansion Program led by Tamkeen in partnership with Gulf-based platform AstroLabs. Now entering its second phase, the initiative aims to support the regional growth of high-potential Bahraini enterprises. It reflects Tamkeen's 2025 strategy to enhance the role of Bahrainis in the private sector while promoting enterprise sustainability, digitisation, and workforce development. AstroLabs Chief Strategy Officer Joe Kobrianos said the collaboration will provide the selected companies with a smooth entry into Saudi Arabia. 'From registration to market access, we're here to guide them,' he said, noting the readiness of Bahraini businesses to scale up. Second Cohort Among the newly selected firms are Creative Matter Advertisement, Fathom Media, and Gems Industrial Services, each bringing niche expertise in creative services, technology, and engineering. They are joined by Braxtone Group, an insurance solutions provider, and DOO, a startup using AI to enhance customer engagement. Also in the cohort are Alfaa Graph, which designs architectural scale models, IT solutions provider Nexcel Computer Solutions, and mobile loyalty platform Loyale. Many of these firms already operate in the Kingdom and are now formalising operations by setting up legal entities. AstroLabs is providing end-to-end expansion support, from compliance to market introduction. First Batch The first cohort saw ten companies make the leap, including packaging manufacturer Bahrain Pack, dietary service Right Calories, 3D manufacturing firm Xtrude, and City Glass, a producer of decorative and architectural glass. Other members included Tanami Capital, Oreem, Boxon Vision, Cinqo Media, and Al-Anzour Physiotherapy and Rehab Complex. These firms helped prove the model's success, achieving early gains in Saudi Arabia. Strategic Fit The two cohorts now join more than 800 companies that have expanded into the Kingdom through AstroLabs. The company has assisted over 1,800 businesses in entering markets across the Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Tamkeen's Director of Workforce, Enterprise, and Startup Enablement, Marwa AlEskafi, said the results affirm Tamkeen's strategy. 'We are proud to see the impact of the first cohort and look forward to the growth of this new batch,' she said.
