Bahrain summer fest to start from Aug 18 festival

The Bahrain Summer Festival will yet again bring its action-packed lineup of amazing shows and events that will entertain audiences of all ages and help strengthen regional cultural bonds.

Details of the festival, scheduled to run from August 18 till September 9, were announced by the Ministry of Culture at a Press conference last week at Bab Al Bahrain.

The conference was presided over by Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture. “The festival will focus on bringing people and nations together to engage and interact and boost cultural ties,” she said.

This year’s fifth edition of Bahrain Summer Festival is part of Manama: Capital of Arab Tourism 2013, leisure tourism season, with shows ranging from local, regional and international music performances, theatrical plays, art exhibitions and much more.

Among the performers is the Lebanese living legend Magida El Roumi, who will perform a selection of her most well-known pieces picked from a catalogue of more than four decades of music.

Iraqi maqam specialist Fareeda Mohammed Ali, one of the Arab World’s eminent female vocalists, is also scheduled to perform a selection of her best-known works.  Completing the musical tour-de-force will be the Arab World’s latest Arab Idol star Mohammed Assaf from Palestine, fresh from his win in the smash-hit talent show, which he won a few weeks ago.

International music admirers will enjoy Reflection of Thais, a fascinating musical showcase from a trio of Thai musicians and vocalists arranged in collaboration with the Royal Thai embassy. The trio will play well-known Western classical compositions and Thai music. For children, the ever-popular Scooby-Doo and Barney are there.

Shaikha Mai also expressed her gratitude to all corporate and media partners for their continued support and working to make it as successful as possible, and they are: Bahrain City Center, Golden Tulip Hotel, Elite Hotel Group, Information Affairs Authority, TV5 Monde, Daily Tribune, Al Ayam, Al Bilad, Al Wasat, Khaleej Times, Rotana magazine, Your FM, Weekender, and Bahrain This Week.

Tamkeen opens new customer service centre

Chairman of the Tamkeen board, Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, inaugurated a customer service centre at the Seef Mall. “The customer service centre is a milestone in line with Tamkeen’s efforts to provide consistent services to businesses and citizens in Bahrain,” he said.

As a strong partner of the private sector, the organisation works to support the national economic strategy with a focus on achieving long-term sustainable results, he said.

Similar centres are to be established across the country’s five governorates, he added.

Tamkeen Chief Executive, Mahmood Hashem Al Kooheji, said: “The fully-equipped centre will serve as a one-stop-shopping experience  where all customer needs will be met, and make the entire process smoother and easier for everyone.”