Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off in Manama

The event, which is held for the first time in the Middle East region, is organized by O2 Marketing Communications with the aim of encouraging the youth to express their ideas and present their initiatives and supporting them to materialize their dreams.

The event is an initiative of Kauffman Foundation, a leading global organization that takes care of young business leaders. It is co-sponsored by IBM, Ernst and Young, and NYSE. It is organized by O2 Marketing Communications and hosted by AMA University in Manama.

Activities of the 'Global Entrepreneurship Week' include the gathering of hundred thousands of students who have come from all over the world to present their innovative ideas and creative initiatives and to discuss them with their peers. They seek to benefit from the expertise of elite of prominent business leaders and experts and famous businessmen who will provide advice and give guidelines on how to change these ideas into reality.

Additionally, the 'Global Entrepreneurship Week' will include 11 thousands activities that will be launched around the world. Seventy of the world countries will take part in this event, while the Arab world participation will be restricted to two States, Bahrain and Morocco.

Efforts will not be limited to the organization of the 'Global Entrepreneurship Week', but they will continue to support young business leaders. Therefore, a meeting will be held in the USA in March 2009 to assess the outcomes and make the proper decisions.

In his speech at the beginning of the launch ceremony, Mr. Mohammed Al Johmani, Managing Director of O2 Marketing Communications, said:

"This gathering aims at adopting the creative ideas of the youth who are under 30 years, those who have not had the chance to materialize their ideas. It also offers opportunity for the youth from all over the world to meet, exchange ideas and mix with other cultures. Providing the youth with the opportunities to establish their entrepreneurs and to tap the business sector demands uniting the efforts of all government and non government organizations in all fields of education, business and media."

This is very important to offer chances and open doors for the coming generations, and to support them to reveal their creativity, to make their way into the business world and to contribute to their countries' development." Mr. Johmani added.

He noted that this event is an initiative of Kauffman Foundation, but it is organized by O2 Marketing Communications that appreciate the power of the youth and their ability to change the current situations, especially in the disappointing environment of the Arab world. "The event comes in a very important time. It is urgently needed to boost hope and aspiration in the Arab youth and to push them to play a positive role in their countries." He remarked.

Al Johmani lauded the Young Arab Leaders Organization's support of the 'Global Entrepreneurship Week', being one of the distinguished events which helps create new Arab leaderships that give hope to bring back the glory of our predecessors who promoted knowledge and peace in the whole world.

O2 Managing Director called on all government and private entities to take their part to help the young generation play their pivotal role in their countries' development. He further criticized the negative response of some public and privates entities towards the organization of this week, and said, "Some of them did not just refuse to offer financial support, but even did not show any interest to provide any kind of advice. Regretfully, Bahrain and Morocco are the only two Arab States participating in this global event."

Mohammed Al Johmani also underlined the problems faced by the Arab World and ascribed them to illiteracy which has reached unbelievable levels. Official statistics show that there are around 70 million illiterate Arabs, in addition to large numbers of Arab populations who cannot speak Arabic. "These figures are increasing every year. This makes us more worried because they indicate the lack of programmes and plans that aim at ending this phenomenon," he said, expressing his doubt in the efficiency of the efforts exerted by public and private sectors in this regard.

Al Johmani called on the Arab media to play a more responsible and effective role to highlight the young generation's problem and creativity, to show interest in their enterprises, and to offer them the chance to serve their communities. He criticized the trivial programmes presented on the satellite channels and invited the media to replace them with others dedicated to this segment of society.

He gave the example of O2 Marketing Communications and said, "As young people, we have faced a lot of troubles in establishing a useful business, and we have strived and fought very hard and saved no effort to materialize this project to support our society. There are so many creative and ambitious young people, both males and females, who seek to establish their enterprises and serve their communities. However, their ideas and plans remain in the dark because they are faced by financial obstacles and the lack of support. If these ideas had the chance to materialize, they would have effectively benefited the Arab society in all fields and helped solve many of its dangerous diseases, especially illiteracy and unemployment."

On his part, Mr. Jonathan Ortmans, Senior Fellow at Kauffman Foundation, the initiator of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, lauded the pivotal role played by O2 Marketing Communications to organize this prominent global event which is held in Bahrain and launched at the same time in 70 countries around the world.

Ortmans said that private organizations have an exceptional chance to contribute to the prosperity of the human race and to encourage the youth to enter the business world. He highlighted the leading role played by Kauffman Foundation and its vast experience that extend to more than 15 years in supporting entrepreneurs in the world.

Mr. Ayman Al Ajmi, the General Manager of AIG of Bahrain, discussed the main obstacles faced by Arab business leaders and ways of overcoming them. He stressed the importance of the concerted efforts of private and public organizations to support Arab business leaders to establish themselves and prove their ability to serve their communities first and then to achieve universality and act as ambassadors of their countries on the global arena.

Al Ajmi presented his expertise in the business world, advising the young people on the best ways to achieve their ambitions before they are 30. He encouraged them to be self-dependent and not to rely on others' help and support. Al Ajmi underlined resolve, determination and hard work as the main factors of success.