Young Arab Leaders, Bahrain launches the 'Arab Leadership Forum 2008: Step by Step to Success'

Notes and media contacts

About Young Arab Leaders - Bahrain Chapter
The Young Arab Leaders (YAL), established in February 2004, is an independent pan-Arab organization aiming to galvanize 500 of the most accomplished, results-oriented individuals from the region who realize it is time to take a more active and responsible role in improving the state of the Arab world.

With presence in other parts of the Arab world, the YAL Bahrain Chapter was officially launched in November 2005 by HH Crown Prince Sh. Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Commander -in -Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force. The Chairman for the Bahrain Chapter is Sh. Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board.

The chapter consists of members who have a track-record of achievements and positive change in their organizations and the society, with the Chairman being His Excellency, Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa.

It aims to achieve even greater youth development in the upcoming years through mentorship programmes and by promoting leadership, discipline, knowledge and skills and helping youth recognize and build potential. The youth targeted are high school students, university students and young professionals who have just began their career path.

About Bahrain Mumtalakat B.S.C
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company is the investment arm of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Established in June 2006 by Royal Decree, Mumtalakat now manages a portfolio of around $10bn, focused primarily in Bahrain.
"Mumtalakat" is an active shareholder and investor in diverse business and industry sectors in 38 commercial enterprises, nationally and internationally, from aluminum production to property development, tourist sites to food production, and transport to telecommunications.
" Mumtalakat's vision is to be the global investor for Bahrain with a leading position in selected industry segments. The vision foresees Mumtalakat's top priority to grow the value of its investment portfolio."

Mumtalakat is committed to fostering the development of the company through better accountability, greater transparency, and improved growth for these businesses in the aim of making it one of the most vibrant companies in the Kingdom.

About Kuwait Finance House
Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain), brings to the market a compelling concept in Islamic Banking combining both Islamic Investment Banking and Islamic Commercial Banking facilities. Established in October 2002 as the first fully-owned subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House, Kuwait - KFH-Bahrain's mission is to deliver excellence and innovation through a broad and integrated range of financial products and services that are in perfect harmony with Shari'a principles.

Built on the same strengths and vision that made KFH Kuwait a leader in the Islamic banking industry for more than 30 years, KFH-Bahrain is committed to: the creation of assets and wealth for its stakeholders; participation in the advancement and growth of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and broader Middle Eastern economies; and the promotion of Islamic banking worldwide.

About Alba
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is one of the largest, safest and most environmentally friendly modern aluminium smelters in the world.

In 2007, Alba produced more than 865,000 tonnes of high quality primary aluminium and set a new safety world record by recording more than nine million working man-hours without a single Lost Time Injury. In addition to its aluminium reduction lines, Alba also boasts a carbon plant, a 2,300MW power-plant, a 600,000 tonne coke calcining plant, a water desalination plant and a marine terminal.

Alba has invested some US$600 million on environmental protection programmes and is one of only 12 companies in the world to have earned the UN Millennium Award. Today, more than 153,500 square-meters of lush greenery thrive across the plant in colourful testimony to Alba's environmental achievements.

The company was officially opened in 1971 and its shareholders today are the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (77%), SABIC Industrial Investments (20%) and Breton Investments (3%).

About Miracle
Miracle Graphics is a Bahrain based company providing complete communication solutions in the Kingdom and beyond. Since its inception in 1993, Miracle Graphics has been an innovative company in the communications sector in Bahrain, evolving from its origin as a pre-press processing company into the areas of digital printing, design and communications and most recently publishing. The company now comprises four divisions in Bahrain -- Miracle Design, Miracle Prints, Miracle Publishing and Miracle Digital - and has an office in Kuwait.

Miracle Design is a market leader in the graphic design and visual communications industry and is at the forefront of Miracle Graphics' vision to grow into a leading communications group throughout the Gulf. Miracle Design specializes in creating high quality, cost effective total communication programs from strategy and conceptual development through execution to final production. Creativity and skills extend across a variety of channels including corporate identities and logos, advertising, promotional items, special events graphics, annual reports, PPM's and communications collateral including brochures, calendars, invitations, flyers and leaflets.

Miracle Design's client base includes Al Areen, ALBA, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Bahrain National Museum, Bahrain Ports, BKIC, Civil Aviation Affairs, The Constitutional Court, Crown Prince's Court (CPISP), Durrat Al Bahrain, Economic Development Board, Etisalat, GBM, GPIC, Ithmaar Development Company, Kuwait Finance House, Lost Paradise of Dilmun, Mena Telecom, Ministry of Information, Olive, Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & National Heritage, Tameer and Venture Capital among others.