(Manama) – Top entrepreneurs and experts from all over the globe will converge on Bahrain for the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2017 (WIEF 2017) which began at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, the forum expects the participation of experts and entrepreneurs from 90 different countries and around 1,000 entrepreneurs and representatives of MSME and entrepreneurship support institutions from the around the world.
Officials from the Islamic Development Bank Group, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Global Entrepreneurship Week, United Nations MCSR Cities Alliance, World Business Angels Investment Forum, Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Arab Fund Social and Economic Development and others will also be present at the forum
This was announced by Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hashim Hussein, Director of UNIDO’s Global Arab Office for Investment and Technology Promotion, Amin El Sharkawi, UN Resident Coordinator and Samir Imtair Aldarbi, UN Information Center (UNIC) for the Gulf Countries yesterday at a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
WIEF 2017, hosted by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in cooperation with the Invest in Bahrain 2017 held by Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, runs until the 2nd of November.
“Through this forum, Bahrain’s commitment to achieving the 17 Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is emphasised,” Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters at the conference.
WEIF 2017, Dr Shaikh Abdulla said, is the only United Nations Global event covering entrepreneurship for development. “This clearly demonstrates the leading role of Bahrain as a major knowledge hub for entrepreneurship and MSME development,” Shaikh Abdulla added.
Explaining about the various activities at the forum, Dr. Hashim Hussein, Director of UNIDO’s Global Arab Office for Investment and Technology Promotion said that forum will be based on three main axes: “first Women in Industry, second; Investment with impact and lastly; Alliance of entrepreneurs and United Nations system for the Silk Road land and sea.”
The first Bahrain Entrepreneur Exhibition sponsored by Tamkeen with the participation of 200 job leaders in various magazines and bilateral meetings (B2B) also form part of the forum.
