Tamkeen, Bahrain’s labour fund, has lent its support as a strategic partner to Microsoft’s Imagine Cup 2013 Competition in Bahrain, which aims to promote IT skills and creativity among the young labour force.

Microsoft is inviting all students ages 16 to 23 to partake in the world’s premier student technology competition. The national winner team will represent Bahrain in the Imagine Cup 2013 Worldwide Finals taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia between July 8 and 13.

Microsoft Bahrain will organise a road show to various universities across the Kingdom to give students the chance to learn more about Imagine Cup and how they can participate in this worldwide annual competition.

Tareq Hijazi, regional country manager for Microsoft in Bahrain & Oman said: “Imagine Cup competition is the first step in a lifelong journey for a young entrepreneur, inventor, designer, developer or innovator.”

“With this 11th session of Imagine Cup competition, we aim at inspiring more students from all academic backgrounds to collaborate on applications and seize opportunities to impact the Bahraini community as well as the world.”

Tamkeen chief executive Mahmood Hashem Al-Kooheji stressed the critical role youth play in advancing Bahrain’s overall development as outlined by Bahrain’s economic vision, and noted entrepreneurship and innovation amongst them as a key way to reach this goal.

“Tamkeen and Microsoft enjoy a long-standing partnership in creating and delivering world-class programmes as part of our drive to empower Bahrainis in the private sector and enhance their contribution to the national economy,” Al-Kooheji said.

“We are firm believers in the tremendous potential of Bahraini youth, as evidenced by our Mashroo3i youth business competition held earlier this year, and are excited to see more of that creativity unleashed in the Imagine Cup 2013,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service