Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain renewed its commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship and empowering young national competencies through its participation as a main partner in this year’s edition of the “Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain” program, which was organized by “Startup Bahrain” with the support of the “Tamkeen” Labor Fund and in cooperation with the University of Bahrain, with the aim of providing students with the practical skills and experiences necessary to develop their ideas and transform them into emerging projects and companies that possess the elements of growth and sustainability.
Within the framework of this partnership, KFH-Bahrain allocated a special award in his name for the best pioneering project with a social impact, confirming its keenness to support initiatives and projects that contribute to creating a positive and sustainable impact in society.
The program attracted more than 1,000 male and female students from various academic disciplines, and resulted in the formation of more than 240 student teams, as part of an integrated practical experience that allowed participants to move from the stage of developing ideas to building projects and prototypes, passing through guidance rounds, workshops, and various qualifiers, leading to the qualification of the best 10 student teams to compete in the closing ceremony.
A number of KFH-Bahrain representatives also participated in the evaluation committees of the qualified projects, based on the bank’s keenness to contribute its practical expertise to supporting and guiding students and young entrepreneurs, and enhancing opportunities for developing promising projects.
The culmination of this partnership came during the closing ceremony of the program, which was held in the presence of Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, and an elite group of officials, academics, entrepreneurs and strategic partners. Dr. Shadi Zahran, CEO of Kuwait Finance House Group – Bahrain, and a number of members of the executive management were present. Dr. Zahran also handed over the bank’s special award to the award-winning “Naama” project.
On this occasion, Dr. Shadi Zahran, CEO of Kuwait Finance House Group – Bahrain, said: “We are proud of our main partnership with the “Startup Bahrain – University of Bahrain” program, which represents a leading national platform that contributes to consolidating the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among young people, and provides them with a practical environment that helps them develop their ideas and turn them into promising projects. This partnership is consistent with our ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives that contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation, and enabling young national talents to play an active role in the process of sustainable economic development in the Kingdom of Bahrain. !
For her part, Maram Murad, event leader at Startup Bahrain, said: “Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain’s support as a main partner of the program reflects the importance of integrating the roles of the private sector in empowering student founders and giving them practical opportunities that help them develop their ideas and turn them into emerging projects that have real opportunities for growth and sustainability.”
