Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the investment arm of the kingdom, has announced its strategic sponsorship of the first GCC Future Entrepreneurs Conference to be held in Bahrain.

The GCC forum is organised by the Bahrain Development Bank and supported by the Finance Ministry.

It will be held at the Gulf Convention Centre at the Gulf Hotel on May 30 and 31.

The conference is a signature meeting of a wider regional vision aimed at spreading and embedding a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to aid the region's future economic growth.

The initiative seeks to foster an environment where private endeavour is both encouraged and rewarded through regulation, funding, training and empowerment.

"A more entrepreneurial business culture will garner enormous benefits for the regional economy, creating added value, new jobs for GCC nationals, attracting foreign investment and improving trade balances," said Mumtalakat chief executive Mahmood Al Kooheji.

"Moreover, it allows individuals to truly fulfil their potential and provides tangible benefits to society in the increased employment opportunities that SMEs create.

"The support to this initiative serves to underline the importance of this endeavour.

"SMEs are the backbone of any economy. As the investment arm of the kingdom, Mumtalakat is dedicated to growing the wealth of Bahrain for the future generations," he said.

"Supporting the GCC Future Entrepreneurs event in Bahrain is a natural step to take to support the economy and as part of our corporate social responsibility programme.

"The event offers a vital opportunity for key stakeholders around the region to get together to share best practice and promote new initiatives," Al Kooheji said.

"The GCC Future Entrepreneurs initiative will ultimately play a vital role in the continued economic growth across the region," he added.

The forum will see an invited select audience of policy makers and businessmen and women sharing knowledge and practical skills as part of this process of economic development. – TradeArabia News Service