MANAMA: More than 100 Bahraini companies participating in the gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS exhibitions are benefitting from financial assistance from Tamkeen. As part of the Tarweej scheme, under Tamkeen's Enterprise Development Support Programme, the support comes under the terms of a strategic partnership with the exhibitions' organisers Al Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

Under the scheme, Tamkeen is subsidising 80 per cent of the total costs of Bahraini companies participating in the two leading trade shows, up to a maximum of BD15,000 ($39,785) for small enterprises and BD20,000 for medium and large enterprises.

The scheme enables eligible Bahraini enterprises to exhibit their products and promote their corporate brands on a regional platform at the leading business-to-business trade shows in the northern Gulf.

"The Tarweej scheme is among our most requested schemes, and has proven to be of added value to the exhibitions and trade fairs both locally and abroad by gaining business owners invaluable exposure with traders and visitors from across the region," said Tamkeen private sector support manager Mohammed Bucheery.

"One small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owner secured an order worth $1 million for his company on the first day of the Gulf Industry Fair which was held back in February," he said.

"Through its strategic partnership with HCE, Tamkeen has been able to leverage the marketing and business development expertise, and deliver a cost-effective approach which ensures Bahrain's private sector enterprises benefit greatly from Tamkeen's initiatives," he added.

"Tamkeen is a tremendous resource for Bahraini companies," said HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman.

"Exhibitors from outside the kingdom have expressed their admiration for what Tamkeen has to offer. The Tarweej programme highlights the specialist capabilities of Bahraini SMEs, and we believe visitors to gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and diversity of local products and services on show," he added.

To be eligible for Tamkeen's assistance, companies must have a valid commercial registration licence, meet Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) quotas for Bahrainisation and pay the monthly LMRA fees.

The gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS exhibitions open today and run until Thursday at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and will feature some of the market leaders in their respective fields.