By: Ahmed El-Shamsy

Bahrain – Mubasher: Labour Fund (Tamkeen) continues to anchor its position as one of the fundamental pillars of Bahrain’s economic development by enabling the private sector and Bahraini citizens to keep pace with rapid technological and economic transformations.

In an exclusive interview with Mubasher Info on the sidelines of the FinTech Forward 2025 (FF25) forum, Khalid Al Bayat‏, ‏Chief Growth Officer at Tamkeen, outlined the features of the fund's new strategy to support digital transformation and prepare national talent to meet the future labor market requirements.

Al Bayat highlighted that digital transformation is not merely an update of tools, but rather a mental and cultural transformation of the Bahraini work environment

“We are committed to continuing to support this trend and building a Bahraini generation capable of leading the future economy with confidence and competence,” he affirmed.

How does Tamkeen contribute to supporting Bahraini citizens and the private sector as well?

Since its establishment in 2006, Tamkeen has aimed to make the private sector the primary driver of the national economy.

We support individuals and institutions through comprehensive programs that include training, wage support, and financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), creating sustainable opportunities that enhance private sector productivity and contribute to achieving the Kingdom's economic vision.

Which key sectors are prioritized in Tamkeen's strategy?

The fund provides support to all sectors, but mainly focuses on promising ones aligned with the economic recovery plan, particularly the technology industry. It is capable of achieving sustainability, creating value-added jobs, and providing career progression for Bahraini citizens.

What are Tamkeen's initiatives in the field of fintech and digital transformation?

Over the past four years, we have focused on developing digital capabilities through specialized training programs in the fintech sector to qualify Bahraini cadres capable of meeting the needs of the local and global market.

We also launched a digital transformation program to support SMEs in their digital transformation journey, through technological solutions that help enhance performance and increase productivity.

Will you brief us about the digital transformation program and the new partnerships?

We recently signed a partnership with du, a leading provider of AI solutions, to provide customized services to companies operating in data analysis, content creation, and customer service.

Previously, we launched a partnership with Zoho to launch the Zoho One platform, which includes more than 45 digital applications to support the digital transformation of Bahraini organizations.

Meanwhile, we are working on establishing additional partnerships to keep pace with the ongoing development and market needs.

What are the most prominent challenges facing small businesses in Bahrain?

Al Bayat underlined that the challenges vary by sector, but the most prominent lie in digital transformation and technical infrastructure.

Tamkeen provides comprehensive services, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), human resources management system (HRMS), accounting, resource management, and other systems.

In the meantime, technology is no longer an option; it is a necessity to ensure growth and competitiveness in the market, and our role is to facilitate this transformation for Bahraini companies.

Is there specific funding or allocations for the fintech sector?

The digital transformation system works on two main tracks: the first is through direct cooperation with tech service providers, such as du and Zoho. Meanwhile, the second offers SMEs access to choose the digital solutions appropriate for their businesses, with the fund financing their implementation.