Manama: Industry and Commerce Minister Dr. Hassan Abdulla Fakhro stressed the need for the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises especially in light of the support received from the Government.
He was speaking as he chaired 19th meeting of the Main Committee to Coordinate and Integrate SME Activities in presence of CEO of Injaz Bahrain Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Economic Development Board, Bahrain Development Bank, UNIDO, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Businessmen’s Society, Ebdaa Bank, Bahrain Businesswomen Society, Bahrain small and medium enterprises society, Bahraini Young Entrepreneurs Association, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, Ministry of Health and a number private sector representatives.
Dr. Fakhro expressed government appreciation for all the efforts undertaken by institutions participated in the committee who has contributed in enhancing Committee’s work.
During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues related to small and medium enterprises sector and reviewed that latest development related to the previous meeting and the action taken by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other relevant parties in order to streamline the workflow.
The team in charge of electronic port project to help small and medium sized enterprises of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) made a presentation about electronic port project in the Kingdom of Bahrain, where the team is currently in Bahrain to train relevant staff from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Tamkeen, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The electronic port includes all the basic themes that serve micro, small and medium enterprises as well as local laws and information related to access local financing and how to start a business. This will facilitate procedures for entrepreneurs and encourage investment in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Then Tamkeen gave a visual presentation about “Tamkeen new strategy to support small and medium enterprises” which focused on providing quality services, results interest, customer’s satisfaction, enhance productivity and sustainable growth for individuals and business. They also reviewed the priorities and strategic goals of Tamkeen and new classification of customers and programs proposed for each segment and review sectors and steps to implement the new strategy.
Later, the Ministry of Industry and commerce gave a visual presentation on the proposal to establish an “Entrepreneurship Council to develop of small and medium enterprises” to oversee and regulate all activities related to entrepreneurship and to develop small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in addition to form an advisory committee to assist this Council to perform its functions effectively.
The Committee members expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the government and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of facilitating the procedures for small and medium enterprises and overcome all obstacles to their work and productivity, in addition to the support provided to them either directly or indirectly through institutions, technical support , and praised the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and which fall within their strategies and orientations based mainly on the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.