Manama: The eGovernment Authority (eGA) and Bahrain Development Bank Group (BDB) has launched the Technopreneur Bahrain Programme.
The initiative aims at supporting and fostering ICT innovative ideas and initiatives of Bahraini youths by providing training, consultancy, financing and incubation services. Total cost of the project is BD 178,360 (seed funding up to BD20, 000 per project), aiming to turn ideas into successful business ventures.
The announcement was made following the signing of a joint agreement yesterday at the eGovernment Authority’s premises in Muharraq. The agreement was signed by and between eGA’s CEO Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, and Bahrain Development Bank Group CEO Nedhal Al Aujan.
The program aims to encourage Bahraini youth to start their ICT businesses, foster innovation, develop their capabilities in this sector, create an enabling environment that supports and promotes this industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain and helps create SMEs with high potential start-Up feasibility in conjunction with the eGA and BDB.
“We are delighted today to launch this joint and leading initiative, in partnership with the eGovernment Authority acting as a specialized entity tasked with upgrading eServices and information technology and communication in the Kingdom of Bahrain on the ground that eGA has a track record of success in this field,” Bahrain Development Bank Group CEO Nedhal Al Aujan, said.
“Bahrain Development Bank Group is a leading development financial institution, specifically designed to finance and develop the SMEs, boost entrepreneurship and provide support for young Bahrainis to help them turn their ideas into business ventures. Therefore, there has been a common vision between the involved parties, and we seek to put in place this vision through the adoption of this joint initiative which came as part of the Economic Vision 2030 for Bahrain, given the economic, business and conceptual feasibility in the ITC industry at the local level as confirmed by several specialized studies.”
“The Bahrain Development Bank Group’s role will be centered on carrying out this program through multiple stages. Programs are reflected in a pre-incubation phase which includes the preparation and training of beneficiaries offered through a basic training program on how to create, run small-sized ventures, gain appropriate guidelines during the program’s duration, provide beneficiaries with the skills required to enhance their abilities in this field, with a core focus on an incubation phase for projects submitted in this program that meets the required standards. A special environment will be created to develop and start new projects through the BDB’s business incubators,” he said.
“The Bahrain Development Bank Group provides appropriate offices and areas for the project, and a several services covering technical support, management, marketing and financing in accordance with the requirements and type of project.”
“eGA is eager to encourage creativity in the ICT sector. We are delighted today to announce the partnership with BDB which has a pivotal role in providing the labor market with ICT projects, enhancing employment opportunities, as the program offers both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience that will enable the candidates to achieve a higher degree of professionalism and career development,” eGA’s CEO Mohammed Ali AlQaed, said.
“We are keen to work on increasing partnerships and cooperation with the private sector and NGOs, aiming to support the initiatives towards developing the ICT sector and contribute in showcasing Bahrain in the ICT worldwide map. This is all tailor-made to meet the requirements of the eGovernment’ s National Strategy 2016 aimed at increasing community partnerships and cooperation with the private sector, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building through training specialists in different majors within the ICT, and upgrading this sector in order for it to take a leading role to further enhance the Kingdom’s economy, as per Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which anticipates the development, spread and growth of this sector. “
“The Technopreneur Bahrain program has a pivotal role in providing the labor market with ICT projects, enhancing employment opportunities, and selecting the national manpower, as the program offers both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience that will enable the candidates to achieve a higher degree of professionalism and career development,” AlQaed, said.
To enroll in this program, interested candidates (individuals and businesses) can apply to the ’the Bahrain Development Bank Group by sending an e-mail to www.bdb-bh.com.
The submitted applications will be studied and selected to benefit from the program through a specialized committee, based on meeting specific standards, and criteria.
It should be noted that this program covers a full spectrum of innovative ideas and projects in the ICT such as mobile apps, e-business, social media networking, and other programming applications.