Spring Forum to nurture budding entrepreneurs

Mindful of the need to properly train and equip local youth with the necessary skills to execute successful small business projects, the forum will comprise visits to the Awal Ladies Society, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), and the Incubator Centre.

The forum will also feature case studies of successful entrepreneurial projects and businesses, as well as workshops focusing on the formalities related to starting one's own company, and various skills and techniques integral to the strategic development, marketing, and overall success of the business.

Twenty female and twenty male candidates were selected for the Forum by the Ministry of Labour. The Spring Forum will run in two rotations, the first of which will be for women and will run until 31st January; while the men's rotation will begin on 3rd February.

Career Expo is a non-profit annual event that is being organized for the 8th time, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Majeed Al Alawi, Minister of Labour, and under the auspices of the National Society for Support of Education & Training (NSSET). The Expo is set to take place at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), on 21 -23 October, 2008.

The three-day event targets Bahraini secondary students, vocational students, jobseekers, parents, and the community at large, in an effort to enhance Bahraini student and jobseeker understanding of the professional world, and to guide them in choosing, or changing, their careers; thereby enriching job prospects and the quality of the Bahraini workforce. Career Expo 2008 will provide an unparalleled opportunity for employers and training providers to meet face to face with students, the unemployed, and those wishing to improve their employment situation.

The previous expo attracted different organizations and it is anticipated that more than 120 organizations will participate and approximately 20,000 visitors will visit Career Expo 2008, including corporate companies, universities, colleges, and other educational institutions; representing a variety of sectors such as: Science and Engineering; Banking and Finance; Catering and Hospitality; and Petroleum and Gas. International Exhibitors also took part in the Expo, coming from Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. More than 15,000 visited the last expo.