Manama: The UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain (UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain), in partnership with the RAK Art Foundation and the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ICEI), announced the launch of the International Centre for the Creative Orange Economy. This initiative positions Bahrain as a regional and global hub for cultural innovation, creative entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Centre aims to empower creative entrepreneurs through advanced research, capacity-building programmes, and international cooperation. It offers artists, designers, and cultural practitioners the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the expanding global creative economy.
The Centre will serve as a hub for innovation, featuring co-working spaces, exhibition halls, digital fabrication labs, and facilities supporting start-ups and creative professionals across various disciplines. As Bahrain continues to invest in creative sectors as drivers of sustainable development, the Centre reflects a long-term commitment to fostering youth employment, gender inclusion, and cross-cultural exchange.
These efforts support the Kingdom’s broader vision to cultivate dynamic, future-ready industries that integrate culture, commerce, and technology. Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Founder of the RAK Art Foundation, emphasised the importance of the milestone, noting that the creative economy is among the most promising engines of sustainable growth. He stated that the establishment of the Centre reflects a commitment to empowering creative talent and building an innovation-driven cultural ecosystem in Bahrain.
Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain, reiterated the organisation’s dedication, stating that the Centre represents a strategic step in strengthening Bahrain’s position in the global creative economy. He highlighted that linking research, innovation, and entrepreneurship will expand opportunities for youth, promote gender equality, and help local creative industries access international markets.
The International Centre for the Creative Orange Economy marks a new chapter in Bahrain’s creative landscape, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as an emerging hub of cultural diplomacy, innovation, and creative entrepreneurship in the region and beyond.