Tamkeen to support SMEs at expo

Tamkeen, Bahrain’s Labour Fund, will lends its support to 20 SMEs from the private sector through its growth assistance programme in helping them showcase their products as an upcoming food and hospitality show.

The second edition of the Food&Hospitality Expo will run from January 12 to 14, 2010 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Tamkeen has joined hands with the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society to help raise awareness and participation in the show by Bahraini food industry players.

With Bahrain being a strategic import-export hub in the GCC for food products, the food industry is a key industrial component in Bahrain’s economic story.

Already, Bahrain has witnessed an industrial boom in the Hidd industrial area in addition to a boom in hypermarkets and retail industry outlets and small-to-medium producers of value-added foods. It is these players that Tamkeen will be targeting for participation in the upcoming event next year.

“The food industry is tailor-made for the involvement of women entrepreneurs and we are very keen to push it with our partners in the venture, the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society,” said Tamkeen’s Mohammed Bucheery, senior manager, private sector support.

“We see that this sector can play a big role in nurturing the SMEs which are the backbone of private sector growth, especially due to Bahrain’s proximity to Saudi Arabia, the biggest market regionally,” he added.

“Participation in the event will give the exhibitors valuable exposure to industry trends, buyers and consumers.”

As with all enterprise development schemes of Tamkeen, the organisation will offer participants subsidized stalls at the event.