Tamkeen strategic partner of the 63rd World Congress of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM)

Tamkeen is taking part as a strategic partner in the 63^rd World Congress of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM), currently taking place in Bahrain from March 23 – 26. The support for the event, which is being held under the slogan “Our Bridges to the World”, comes as part of Tamkeen’s efforts to enhance the skills of Bahrainis and promote entrepreneurship to boost national economic development.

Over 300 delegates from 40 countries are taking part in the event, which is being held under the patronage of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), and is organised by the Bahrain Business and Professional Women International Federation (BPW) and Council of Arab Business Women (CABW).

Tamkeen Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa underlined Tamkeen’s commitment to support initiatives which bolster sustainable development of the national economy, adding that women empowerment plays a key role in this regard. This is embodied by the directives of the kingdom’s leadership to empower women in all areas to become an active contributor to national development and create equal opportunities for all strata of society.

Over the years, Tamkeen launched initiatives which cater specifically to women to complement the general support programmes it provides. These efforts were recognised with Tamkeen winning HRH Princess Sabeeka Award for Bahraini Women Empowerment three times in 2009, 2014, and 2015.

Among these programmes was Riyadat Mall, a joint initiative with the SCW and Bahrain Development Bank, which is the first business incubator in the region exclusively to businesswomen. Other such initiatives include facilitating micro-loans for women-owned businesses and productive families, grants to set up business in a range of fields such as transportation, photography, and fashion, and training workshops designed to improve basic skills of Bahraini women to enable them to find gainful employment.