Jan 29 2013
To enable more enterprises to benefit from its programmes and make them more flexible…
Manama, 29 January 2013:
As part of its continuous efforts to support the private sector and stimulate the growth of Bahraini businesses, especially SMEs, Tamkeen today announced that it is dropping one of the eligibility conditions to benefit from its Enterprise Development Support programme. As per the change, beneficiaries are no longer required to use service providers certified by Tamkeen, and can now choose from whichever service providers they prefer.
In addition to creating more flexibility, the change will allow more companies in Bahrain the opportunity to participate in the Enterprise Development Support programme and compete to provide beneficiaries with high-quality advisory services. The proposed additions and improvements cover the “Istishara”, “Jawda”, and “Tasweeq” schemes as they are three Enterprise Development Support schemes that previously required using Tamkeen-certified service providers.
Tamkeen’s Chief Executive Mahmood Hashem Al Kooheji said the new amendments to the eligibility criteria is testament to Tamkeen’s commitment to improve the performance of Bahraini enterprises, increase their productivity and efficiency, and put them on the right track toward growth and prosperity in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. “The changes were made in response to calls by beneficiary enterprises for more flexibility in choosing service providers. The new facilities are expected to allow more Bahraini organisations, both beneficiaries and service providers, to maximise the benefits and help advance economic growth.”
More than 4,700 national business enterprises across all sectors benefited from Tamkeen’s Enterprise Development Support programme to date. The figure is expected to increase considerably with the new change in place.
The six schemes under the Enterprise Development Support Programme are “Istishara” which enables business owners to better run their business by making informed business decisions for enhanced productivity and long-term sustainability, “Jawda” which enables business owners to implement world-class quality management systems to improve products and services offered, “Techania” to enable business owners to invest in modern equipment to reduce operational costs and improve productivity, “Tarweej” to enable enterprises to increase their visibility through participation in local and international trade fairs and exhibitions, “Tasweeq” to enable business owners to create professional marketing and communication strategies to grow the business, and the Large Enterprises Scheme to enable large enterprises to acquire industrial machinery and technology.
In all, more than 66,000 Bahraini individuals and enterprises benefited from Tamkeen programmes to date. The total number of beneficiaries is expected to reach more than 100,000.
Business owners interested in enrolling in the Enterprise Development Support Programme can visit Tamkeen’s Enterprise Development Support Agency at Meral Building located in Seef area, or call the toll-free number (please add the number) or email (edsa@tamkeen.bh ) or through the website (www.tamkeen.bh/edsa ).
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About Tamkeen
Tamkeen is an initiative funded by the private sector for the private sector, tasked with developing Bahrain’s private sector and positioning it as the key driver of economic development. Established in August 2006, Tamkeen is one of the cornerstones of Bahrain’s national reform initiatives and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
Tamkeen has two primary objectives: Firstly, fostering the creation and development of enterprises, and secondly, providing support to enhance the productivity and growth of enterprises and individuals.
Under each of those objectives, certain mechanisms and innovative support initiatives have been put in place by Tamkeen to address current and future gaps for individuals and enterprises in the private sector that have been identified by thorough studies of the labour market landscape. To date, Tamkeen has created 180 such support programmes.
For Bahrainis, Tamkeen’s programmes range from developing the skills and capabilities of Bahrain’s human capital, to promoting sound workplace ethics and training on leadership and management best practices, among others. For enterprises, Tamkeen provides programmes which offer enterprises with subsidised business support services, facilitate access to financing to bridge the enterprise financing gap, and enable entrepreneurship, to name a few.
As of end of 2012, Tamkeen’s programmes have benefited 66,000 Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector, and allocated more than BD 292.5 million to the sector for its ongoing and completed programmes. In all, more than 100,000 beneficiaries are expected to benefit from these support programmes.
Tamkeen’s human capital development programmes have benefited more than 47,000 Bahrainis, including funding training for nearly 30,000 Bahrainis. In addition, they enabled a further 3,500 Bahrainis to find gainful employment, and more than 2,000 Bahrainis to obtain professional certifications in their respective fields.
For enterprises, nearly 19,000 enterprises have benefited from Tamkeen’s support programmes, including enabling more than 4,900 enterprises to get low-cost capital through its BD210 million financing portfolio, and more than 4,500 enterprises to enhance their performance through its subsidised business support services.
In parallel, Tamkeen’s programmes have played a key role in institutionalising new concepts within Bahrain’s private sector, including SME and micro-financing, entrepreneurship as a viable career path, women empowerment, modern accounting and auditing systems within SMEs, and many other paradigms needed for a vibrant sustainable private sector.
Tamkeen’s funds come from 50% of the fees collected from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.
For more information about our programmes, please call:
Tamkeen
Telephone: 17383333
Fax: 17382352
e-Mail: support@tamkeen.bh
Website : www.tamkeen.bh
http://www.facebook.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://twitter.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://www.youtube.com/TamkeenBahrain
http://www.linkedin.com/company/tamkeen
http://instagram.com/TamkeenBahrain
© Press Release 2013
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