The event commenced with opening addresses by the Bahrain Businesswomen Society President Ahlam Janahi, and Tamkeen Chief Executive Mahmood Hashem Al-Kooheji. This was followed by a presentation delivered by Ammar Awachi on the various Tamkeen support programmes which are designed to enable Bahrainis and enterprises within the private sector. In addition to giving an overview of the programmes, the presentation also focused on those programmes which are dedicated to empower Bahraini women to achieve their potential and increase their contribution to economic development, in line with Vision 2030.
Al-Kooheji said the strong long-standing relationship between Tamkeen and leading women organisations within Bahrain which has resulted in the launch of several pioneering initiatives for Bahraini women and helped create a positive shift in the way they view the workplace.
“Receiving HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Award for Women Empowerment in 2009 served as validation to our collective success in this regard,” Al-Kooheji, said.
“And we are committed to work even harder to increase our outreach programmes and bring Tamkeen closer to all our stakeholders.”
Janahi expressed the Society’s sincere gratitude to all who have supported it over the past 12 years and helped it become the leading organisation it is today. namely HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the Honorary President of Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society HH Shaikha Thajba bint Salman Al Khalifa, Shaikha Lulwa bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, as well as leading organisations such as Tamkeen.
“We sincerely appreciate Tamkeen’s efforts in continuously developing and supporting Bahraini women Entrepreneurs, and for the opportunity given to us today to become more aware of its various programmes from which our members can benefit,” she said. “Tamkeen’s initiatives offer solutions that help ensure the growth and development of business projects to enable the sustainability and success of these ventures.”
The presentation was followed by an open Q&A session, followed by presentations delivered by entrepreneurs Dalal Bucheeri and Alya Murad who shared their experiences as female entrepreneurs in Bahrain. The evening concluded with a formal awards ceremony by the Bahrain Businesswomen Society to honor the Society’s members, strategic partners, and affiliates.
“Tamkeen initiatives are visible and offer vast opportunities and advantages, and I urge businesswomen in Bahrain to take advantage of them because they allow companies’ to enhance productivity and profitability as well as supporting human capital development,” Dr. Lulwa Al Mutlaq, owner of Golden Trust Consultancy, said.
To date, Tamkeen has developed nearly 180 programmes that have benefited over 15,000 women to date, including a BD 1 million portfolio to facilitate micro-financing solutions for women. Thanks to these concentrated outreach efforts, nearly half of the beneficiaries (47%) from Tamkeen’s human capital development and private sector support programmes are Bahraini women.
Tamkeen formulated a dedicated Women Empowerment Strategy, and formed its own Women Empowerment Committee to specifically oversee all planning and coordinative efforts, as well as recommending the measures and initiatives required to empower Bahraini women.