Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation offers entrepreneurship training to 150 young Bahrainis

Organised in collaboration with the Bahrain Development Bank and its affiliate - the Bahrain Business Incubator Centre, the programme is the first of its kind to be held in Bahrain. The initiative will be held in two batches, drawing an overall participation of about 150 young entrepreneurs. The first ended on 13 August, while the second will be organised from 15 - 19 August.

The training programme is part of an action plan set earlier this year by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation in conjunction with the Bahrain Business Incubation Centre and the Bahrain Development Bank under the umbrella of the Arab Incubators Network.

Sultan Lootah, Vice-President - Entrepreneurship and Employment Sector, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said:

"The Foundation is committed to promoting new values and perception in the Arab employment market and helping young entrepreneurs realize their creative concepts. It is also acting as a change agent by providing all the necessary tools and hosting training programmes that are considered vital for developing knowledge and skills and for transforming ideas into executable and applicable projects."

"This training is the fruit of our cooperation with the Bahrain Business Incubation Centre and translates one of the core objectives of the Arab Incubators Network. The programme will offer a solid launch platform and equip the young and aspiring entrepreneurs with the know-how to understand and interact with markets, prior to setting up successful business ventures."

Nedhal Al Aujan, Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Development Bank, said: "The bank has consistently played an effective role in varied sectors through investing in Bahrain's human resources and developing self-reliant individuals and communities. Organising such a training programme reflects our vision to strongly serve the youth of Bahrain at a time when the entrepreneurial sector shows high promise of growth.

"The training model that we are aiming to disseminate in Bahrain has achieved much success in other developed countries, proving that capacity building is a necessity and a change tool that measures the evolution of a civilization. As a development bank, we adopt Bahraini citizens and develop their skills through carefully designed training methodologies."

The training modules will cover a variety of subjects related to entrepreneurship such as planning, execution and management. It will also offer participants tools to develop business plans, analyse markets, manage finances and identify new ideas that will provide support and sustain the project. Moreover, the courses will enrich the participants' knowledge, tone their managerial and creative skills, and empower them to set up successful projects that will eventually contribute to the economic development of Bahrain.

Sultan Lootah distributed certificates to participants on their successful completion of the training programme.

In May 2009, the Foundation organised the first Arab Incubators Network meeting as part of its continuous efforts to provide a platform for Arab leaders and empower emerging institutions to establish training centres and educational organisations for the region-wide dissemination of knowledge with the objective of generating employment in the region.