Tamkeen signed an agreement with the Arab International Center for Entrepreneurship and Investment (AICEI) , which falls under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Bahrain, to launch the \"Entrepreneurship Workshops Programme\", the first Tamkeen training programme catering solely to Bahraini entrepreneurs. The signing ceremony was attended by Tamkeen’s Chief Executive Mr. Mahmood Al-Kooheji and the Head of UNIDO in Bahrain Dr. Hashim Hussain along with senior officials from both sides. The new initiative, which is set to commence in January 2014, seeks to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation among Bahrainis, a core objective within Tamkeen’s drive to develop the capabilities of Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector. Tamkeen allocated a budget of around BD 170,000 to the programme, which will involve conducting 24 workshops covering a wide range of areas relevant to entrepreneurs. In all, 480 Bahrainis will benefit from the programme. Commenting on the programme’s launch, Tamkeen Chief Executive Mr. Mahmood Al-Kooheji said, \"We are extremely excited to launch the Entrepreneurship Workshops Programme in partnership with UNIDO. The programme is another step forward in our drive to empower Bahrainis to take control of their future, and shift the mindset from job seekers to job creators.\" Dr. Hashim Hussain, Head of UNIDO in Bahrain, also commented, \"Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of all modern economies, and we share with Tamkeen the profound desire to put in place the right framework and support programmes to facilitate innovation and sustainably develop the nation’s economy. This increases the capability of entrepreneurs to create new projects, contribute in the growth of current projects through an investment incentives programme and develop enterprises, which fit in a framework known internationally as the Bahraini Arabic Model.\" The workshops will be held over a two-year period, and cover such areas such as product/service development, brand identity, resource management, creativity and idea generation, market gap identification, and more. Each workshop will be taught by a market expert with international experience of the subject matter. The \"Entrepreneurship Workshops Programme\" complements Tamkeen’s other entrepreneurship-focused programmes which provide funding and support to new business ventures. These include the Start-up Support Scheme, \"Mashroo3i\" youth business plan competition, networking events, and dedicated women entrepreneurship programmes in partnership with the Supreme Council for Women. All Bahrainis who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs are eligible for this programme. Details on how to register for the programme can be found on (www.arceit.org). Additional information can also be acquired through the following contact details: Phone 17536881, Fax 1536883 and hashim@arceit.org. To date, more than 77,000 Bahrainis and Bahraini enterprises have benefited from Tamkeen programmes, which include training, work readiness, and business support and financing solutions for start-ups and established enterprises.