Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation & Bahrain Development Bank Honour 51 Training Programme Graduates in Bahrain 

Graduates are the First Batch of Youth Entrpreneurship Training Programme in Bahrain in 2010 

Dubai - Manama: 30 January, 2010 -  A high-level delegation from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) has presented certificates of completion to the first batch of 51 Bahraini entrepreneurs who successfully completed the first Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme for 2010 in Manama, Bahrain.  

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation delegation included Adel Al Shared, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director and Sultan Lootah, Executive Director - Entrepreneurship Development. The Bahrain Development Bank delegation included its CEO Nedhal S. Al Aujan and other senior officials of the bank. The certificates were presented at a graduation ceremony organised in partnership with the Foundation’s strategic partner Bahrain Business Incubator Centre, a subsidiary of the Bahrain Development Bank. 

The Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme comprised of a series of training sessions that aimed at supporting and developing the entrepreneurial skills of university students as well as young working executives in Bahrain and were conducted by Bahrain Business Incubator Centre & Bahrain Development Bank from 24-28 January. 

Similar to the training programme held with the BDB and Bahrain Business Incubation Centre in August 2009, the Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme was designed to help potential Bahraini entrepreneurs assess a business idea, develop a strategy and a business plan, understand the market and acknowledge the financial aspects of a business. 

Adel Al Shared, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director at the Foundation, said: “The Foundation is committed to  promoting new values and perception in the Arab employment market and helping young entrepreneurs realize their creative concepts. It is also acting as a change agent by providing all the necessary tools and hosting training programmes vital for developing knowledge and skills and for transforming ideas into executable and applicable projects. 

“This training programme is the fruit of our cooperation with the Bahrain Development Bank and Bahrain Business Incubation Centre and translates one of the core objectives of the Arab Incubators Network. The programme will offer a solid launch platform and equip the young and aspiring entrepreneurs with the know-how to understand and interact with markets, prior to setting up successful business ventures,” Al Shared added.

Mr. Nedhal Saleh Al Aujan, CEO of Bahrain Development Bank stated: “The continuation of training for young Bahrainis in the Entrepreneurship Orientation Programme demonstrates the strong cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and our resolve to develop and train potential entrepreneurs who are willing and are able to thrive into the business field.  Nonetheless, this approach is also aligned with the global path in supporting and developing entrepreneurship that plays a big role in the national economic development.” 

In addition, Mr. Al Aujan affirmed that BDB will continue to conduct the training and capacity building programmes for Bahraini entrepreneurs as it is an important aspect of Bahraini human resource development and overall economic development of the country.  BDB and BBIC have also worked on building the proper awareness in all regions within Bahrain through its successful experience in this field and its benefit in linked programmes with support institutions nationally and regionally as shown through the cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.  

In addition to intensifying the managerial skills and business knowledge of the participants, the initiative will foster an entrepreneurial spirit that will lead to the creation of successful businesses and eventually contribute to the economic development of Bahrain. 

In May 2009, the Foundation organized the first Arab Incubators Network meeting as part of its continuous efforts to provide a platform for Arab leaders and empower emerging institutions to establish training centres and educational organisations for the region-wide dissemination of knowledge. The Foundation has signed seven MoU’s  with prominent regional organisations that share its objectives and goals.  

The objectives of the Arab Incubators Network is to support and strengthen existing business incubation centres in the Arab World and host an annual forum for all incubators to meet and share best practices and ideas. 

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to drive the region towards knowledge economy. With a US$10 billion endowment, the Foundation seeks to identify and develop promising institutions and individuals for guiding the region towards economic and social progress.