With just a week to go, the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship 20 finalists are eagerly awaiting next week’s Award gala event, when the winners for the 5 award categories will finally be announced. The prestigious award has been created to support Bahraini businesses and recognise the efforts and contributions of entrepreneurs to Bahrain’s economy.
Since the launch of the Awards in December 2014, hundreds of applications for the Award categories were received and these have subsequently been whittled down to the 20 finalists:
Bayanat DMC, Namaste, Sugar & Lace and Wood Jewelry for Micro-Enterprise of the Year; Amina Gallery, EAT, Obai & Hill and Startup Bahrain for Startup of the Year; Creative Style, Designer Shaik, Ideas Information Technology and Maya La Chocolaterie for Enterprise of the Year (SMEs); 2Connect W.L.L, Abdulla Ahmed Nass & Sons Co., Dadabhai Travel & Tours Co W.L.L and KMC Holding for Enterprise of the Year (Large Companies); and Almoayyed Contracting Group, BMMI, Reef Arabia and The K Hotel for the Sustainable Business Award.
The 20 finalists all share a sense of pride in representing Bahrain’s growing entrepreneurial spirit, and understand the significance of the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship and its key role in celebrating Bahraini-based talent. Among the many comments made by the finalists, Wafa Obaidat from Obai & Hill said: "We need to believe in Bahrainis, we need to take the time to train them and invest in them," emphasising the Award’s role in recognising Bahrain’s talent. Aziz Gilitwala, representing Dadabhai Travel & Tours Co W.L.L, said "This Award allows the opportunity to showcase what Bahraini entrepreneurs can accomplish and the impact they can make regionally," stressing Bahrain’s growing role as a regional business contender.
The nominees have also found an entrepreneurial collective in the Award’s process wherein networking opportunities have been presented, "By being considered for the Award as a group, we’re being connected to other businesses and fellow like-minded entrepreneurs and learning from one another’s experiences," said Weam Zabar, from Namaste.
Winners in each award category have the chance to further sustain their businesses and grow for the future, as the prizes for award winners include enrollment in development programmes; startup funding capital; business coaching; business incubators and accelerators; growth plan development in addition to training and certification. The 7 category winners will be announced on the date of the official ceremony for the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship on March 11th 2015.
The Bahrain award for Entrepreneurship has been launched with the partnership of Tamkeen, EDB, BDB, and Knowledge advisors the Ministry of Industry and Commerce , BCCI, UNIDO, and EY Bahrain.
For further information, or to find out how to participate in the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship, interested entrepreneurs and businesses can visit www.BahrainAE.com, follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook account on @BahrainAE, contact the award’s hotline on 17000710 between 7.30am and 11pm or email info@BahrainAE.com