$75m investment in Bahraini skills training

Notes and media contacts

About the Bahrain Economic Development Board:
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic Government agency with an overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain, and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom.

The role of the Bahrain EDB is to provide leadership by uniting all of the Kingdom's shareholders through a unified vision, and to develop key strategies for growth. The Bahrain EDB also acts as a facilitator, helping all of Bahrain's stakeholders to understand and adopt the changes necessary for progress. In addition, the Bahrain EDB provides sound project management to ensure that all agreed reform initiatives are implemented in an effective and timely manner.

The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is focusing on six target economic sectors in which the Kingdom offers significant strengths. These are financial services, downstream industries, tourism, business services, logistics and health, education and training.

EDB Mission Statement:
Our mission is to grow and diversify Bahrain's economy by developing a strategy that supports the advancement of a modern and liberalized business environment, encourages inward investment and enables us to compete in the global marketplace.

We are dedicated to raising living standards by creating greater opportunities for our citizens and to make Bahrain the Gulf's most welcoming, business friendly location. We will accomplish these goals by working in partnership with the public and private sectors, and by being passionate, professional and innovative in all that we do.

For more information on the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), please contact:
Dina Kasrawi:
Tel: +973 1758 9983

Natasha Sterling:
Tel: +973 3 995 6730

About the Labour Fund:
The Kingdom of Bahrain has taken vital steps towards a labour market reform which is an essential stride to ensure that the human capital of the country is developed and that employment is made more attractive for localization as well as to improve performances of businesses. The strive towards labour reform will impact the Kingdom's economy and raise standards of living as well as pose a challenging commitment to the improvement of services in Bahrain.

The Labour Fund is a semi-autonomous yet independent authority which formulates strategic and operational plans to use the fees collected by the LMRA in order to enhance the overall prosperity of Bahrain by investing in Bahraini employability, job creation, and social support. Hence, the Labour Fund's main objectives are (i) to support Bahrainis to become the employees of choice, and (ii) to support high quality private sector job creation and helping the private sector cope with the impact of labour market reform.

To achieve these objectives, the LF will invest (i) in the cost and quality competitiveness of Bahrainis (e.g., reduction of cost of employing Bahrainis relative to expatriates, investment in skills and work ethic development programs of Bahrainis) and tackle employment barriers on both employer and labour market entrants sides through a combination of financial incentives and capability building, and (ii) in supporting the private sector's adjustment to new cost structures by providing access to capital to alleviate short-term cash constraints or improve productivity, and in know-how initiatives that support improvements in productivity and decreased reliance on expatriate labour through spreading management and technical knowledge.

For more information on the Labour Fund, please contact:
Hala Suleiman
Marketing Manager
Tel: +973 17568850/1