Manama: AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation (MKF) has rolled out a specialised programme, "Crisis-Response: Youth Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Readiness Programme," designed to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bahrain by equipping entrepreneurs with essential skills to tackle global economic challenges.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this initiative addresses the pressures SMEs in Bahrain face, including operational continuity, financial resilience, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties. In collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain (UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain), the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the programme provides a series of sessions on services, initiatives, and development opportunities for Bahraini entrepreneurs.
Conducted at the Foundation's headquarters, these sessions are facilitated by specialists who cover topics such as business sustainability, growth, franchising opportunities, digital transformation, and stress management. The aim is to bolster wellbeing, business growth, and operational efficiency within Bahrain's entrepreneurship ecosystem.
UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain shared international best practices in SME sustainability through the "Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Program" (EDIP), also known as the Bahrain Model for Entrepreneurship. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, and Export Bahrain contributed expertise tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs. Additionally, Dr. Raed Shams conducted a C3Q Workshop on critical thinking and problem-solving.
Further sessions by the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) and Tamkeen are scheduled for June, focusing on business development and innovation from academic and technical perspectives. Participants are introduced to practical frameworks for improving operational performance, resource management, and strategies to counter economic disruption, while fostering cooperation between academic and private sectors.
Post-session, entrepreneurs will receive counselling support to develop growth-oriented, sustainable business plans aimed at enhancing resilience and success. Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of MKF's Board of Directors, emphasized the significance of national and international cooperation in overcoming SME challenges, which are pivotal to economic growth.
Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, lauded the partnership with MKF, highlighting the initiative's role in equipping SMEs with necessary tools for sustainable growth. This collaboration underscores MKF's dedication to socio-economic development through investing in human capital and empowering youth and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into sustainable projects contributing to the national economy.
Established in 2011, AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation is a non-profit organisation licensed by Bahrain's Ministry of Social Development, focusing on creating social impact through education and empowering local talent with skills and experience.