Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Kingdom of Bahrain and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) have signed an MoU paving the way for the prospective young leaders to equip themselves with practical exposure as internees at the world-class financial sector of New Jersey.
During the first leg of GCC-wide economic mission to the Gulf Arab States, the Governor Phil Murphy led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Masari Association, an independent Bahraini youth organization, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The MOU, signed by Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA, and witnessed by Governor Phil Murphy, creates internship opportunities in New Jersey for highly skilled Bahraini youth and strengthens the long-term economic and cultural connections between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of New Jersey.
“This MOU is a shining example of how international collaboration can empower the next generation of global leaders,” said, Governor Phil Murphy. “We are proud to open new doors for New Jersey businesses and Bahraini students to grow our thriving economy, contribute to its innovation, and help Bahraini youth return home with meaningful experiences that benefit both of our regions.”
The Masari Association, which operates under the authority of Bahrain’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, offers young people local and international programs that promote professional development and workforce preparedness. Through this MOU, Masari and NJEDA will collaborate to connect Bahraini youth with New Jersey-based companies, enabling real-world internships that align with Bahrain’s economic vision and priorities.
“We are proud to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Masari Association and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority—an important milestone in advancing our shared commitment to youth empowerment,” said Rawan Bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth, Masari Association. “This strategic partnership marks a significant step toward fostering meaningful collaboration that will open new doors for Bahraini youth to engage with and learn from a leading global economic environment. By gaining practical experience and developing key professional skills, our young people will be better equipped to thrive in today’s dynamic world. At the Ministry of Youth Affairs, we remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting initiatives that cultivate empowered, capable, and future-ready youth who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s sustainable development and prosperity.”
The MOU outlines a series of collaborative efforts, including information sessions between Masari participants and New Jersey industry leaders, direct engagement with hiring organizations, and coordination of intern placement and onboarding. Both parties will work closely to ensure the experience supports the goals of its host companies while giving Bahraini youth exposure to the New Jersey business environment and culture.
“We believe that investing in young people today builds stronger economies tomorrow,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of The New Jersey Economic Development Authority. “We look forward to welcoming Bahrain’s talented youth into New Jersey companies, helping them grow professionally and strengthening the bonds between our two regions into the future.”
“Choose New Jersey is proud to support programs that empower future leaders and build global partnerships,” said Wesley Mathews, President and CEO of Choose New Jersey. “This internship program allows two forward-thinking economies to invest in the long-term success of our economies while creating a valuable cultural experience for the next generation.”
Choose New Jersey is the state’s leading non-profit business attraction organization. We harness the collective power of New Jersey’s business, government, labor, and academic sectors to expand New Jersey’s economy. We work globally, using our marketing expertise, concierge business development services, deep knowledge of the state, and convening power, in collaboration with state government, to empower businesses, entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators to make New Jersey their home. Learn more at choosenj.com.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness. Learn more at njeda.gov.
Masari Association is a national initiative established by Royal Decree No. (12) of 2024, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Youth Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Spearheaded by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Masari is dedicated to empowering Bahraini youth through education, skills development, and career-building opportunities.
The Association plays a strategic role in bridging the gap between youth and global opportunities by facilitating access to international scholarships, internships, and professional training programs. Through strong collaborations with embassies, international universities, global corporations, and multilateral organizations, Masari identifies high-impact opportunities and ensures that young Bahrainis are equipped to thrive in a competitive global landscape.
Masari operates a comprehensive outreach model, allowing youth to register interest in opportunities, receive tailored guidance, and navigate the application process with the association’s support. The association also actively fosters public-private partnerships to enhance talent development and national workforce readiness.
With a forward-looking vision and government-backed mandate, Masari continues to be a catalyst for youth development in Bahrain, paving the way for the next generation of leaders, innovators, and professionals.
Spain’s digital interruption causes Euros 1.3b loss, says , DCO; issues a stark warning to digital economies
Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has expressed its solidarity with those affected by the massive power outage that struck parts of Portugal and Spain on 28th April 2025, disrupting essential services and impacting tens of millions of people across the Iberian Peninsula.
DCO also expressed concerns over the scale of the disruption, resulting in a loss of 1.3 billion Euros for the Spanish economy alone according to ATA – Spain’s self-employed worker’s association – highlighting the need of strengthening resilience through multilateral digital cooperation.
Digital Cooperation Organization urges collective efforts following Iberian Peninsula blackout critical importance of digital resilience and coordinated emergency response mechanisms among nations.
“This outage underscores the critical importance of cross-border digital preparedness and cooperative mechanisms,” said Deemah AlYahya, Secretary of the DCO. “We must now seize the opportunity to build smarter, more interoperable systems, and explore innovative regional solutions such as Power Pooling – made possible through digital platforms and real-time data coordination.”
Affecting sixty million people across both countries, the disruption brought transportation systems to a standstill, halted communications, and interrupted critical services. Beyond the financial losses, the outage disrupted daily life, stranded commuters, and cut off critical services. It also exposed the fragility of the digital economy, halting online services, freezing digital payments, and paralyzing cloud operations.
The incident serves as a powerful reminder of increasing vulnerabilities within our interconnected digital and physical infrastructures – and the urgent need for reinforced global cooperation to build more resilient and sustainable digital infrastructure, as well as collaborative cross-border responses to crisis scenarios.
The outage this week follows other recent systemic failures, including the Microsoft global outage in July 2024, which affected over 40,000 organizations worldwide, disrupting critical digital services. Digital resilience is now essential for national stability, economic security, and societal well-being, making possible by cross-border cooperation – an ethos central to the mission of DCO.
Indeed, cross border cooperation proved to be the solution, with Morocco, a DCO Member State playing a key role in the restoration of power to Spain. Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the country for its vital assistance in restoring electricity to southern regions after the unprecedented power outrage.
Power Pooling, where countries share an integrated generation capacity and grid stability across borders, offers a transformative path toward energy resilience. Through intelligent digital integration and cross border protocols, such systems can buffer demand shocks, optimize supply chains, and reduce carbon intensity — while strengthening geopolitical trust and economic efficiency.