MANAMA: Microsoft Bahrain announced that the Bahrain Development Bank is supporting the 2014 round of Imagine Cup Competition in Bahrain.
Under this partnership, BDB will provide the teams shortlisted to participate in the local finals, advisory services and further training to develop their ideas and produce an application to enhance their chances of winning the local title and represent Bahrain in the Pan Arab competition and in the Global Finals taking place in Seattle- USA end of July. Other products and services can also be considered subject to terms and conditions.
The signing ceremony was held at the Bank’s headquarters in presence of Bahrain Development Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Nedhal AlAujan representing the Bank and Microsoft’s Regional Manager for Bahrain and Oman Tareq Hijazi signing on behalf of the Company.
“By supporting the youth of today, we are investing in the future of our nation,” Bahrain Development Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Nedhal AlAujan, said.
He thanked Microsoft for bringing Imagine Cup to Bahrain and giving the students the chance to partake in such international contest. “Participating in the world’s premier student technology competition will expose the students to the latest in application software development giving them the opportunity to broaden their knowledge, earn new experiences and discover different prospects of their future through establishing their own businesses.”
Running for the 12th year, Microsoft Imagine Cup the world’s premier student technology competition aims to providing students from all academic disciplines the opportunity to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge to create applications and maybe turn them into profitable business projects.
“At Microsoft, we believe in the power of the individual, hence our commitment to providing the youth in Bahrain the tools and resources to explore their potential and develop their capabilities,” Tareq Hijazi, Regional Country Manager for Microsoft in Bahrain and Oman, said.
“Joining hands with BDB is not only an honor for us to be associated with such reputable organization; it is also a window of opportunity for the finalist teams to have the needed resources to examine their concept idea, develop it, test it and create a full application that might help them win the local title and secure their place in the Pan Arab round of the competition.”
Hijazi reiterated Microsoft’s commitment to joining hands with Bahraini entities from both public and private sectors to help achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by empowering the youth, supporting SMEs and promoting entrepreneurship.
As partner, Bahrain Development Bank will join Microsoft, Tamkeen and eGovernment Authority during the coaching nights that aim to introduce the participants in-depth to the competition, its rules and regulations as well as the different capacities and resources each partner brings along. Bahrain Development Bank will also be represented in the judging panel during the local finals.
Microsoft Bahrain and its partners launched a hash tag on twitter #ImagineCup2014Bahrainto keep the participants up to date about Imagine Cup 2014 Bahrain news and updates.
Students are requested to submit their project for the Imagine Cup 2014 Bahrain on http://ow.ly/uFlV3before Friday 4thof April 2014for a chance to compete in the worldwide finals in Seattle, USA.