PH Embassy Participates in Forum on Entrepreneurship Held at Royal University for Women in Bahrain

(Left photo) CDA Anne Jalando-on Louis gives an inspirational message for expatriate entrepreneurs in Bahrain during the Annual Exhibition and Forum on Entrepreneurship held at the Royal University for Women (RUW) on 16 February 2023. (Right photo) CDA Louis with Dr. Hashim Hussein (center in blue suit), Head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)-Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Bahrain, and RUW officials, organizers, other speakers and guests, and several participants of the exhibition and forum. (Manama PE photos)

MANAMA, 21 February 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Manama participated in the Annual Exhibition and Forum on Entrepreneurship held on 16 February 2023 at the Royal University for Women (RUW) in Riffa, Bahrain. The event was organized by the College of Business and Law of the RUW in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), the Philippine Teachers Association – Bahrain (PTAB), and the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society.

Participating in the exhibition were several women entrepreneurs, including Filipinos based in Bahrain, who showcased various products such as food, jewelry, cosmetics, garments, artworks, décor and souvenir items, as well as a Filipino-owned company that offers events management services.

At the Forum, Charge d’ Affaires Anne Jalando-on Louis gave an inspirational message and highlighted the important role of entrepreneurship in a country’s economy, including the Philippines. She also shared the Philippine government’s various efforts in promoting entrepreneurship and in supporting entrepreneurs, such as through programs that promote competitiveness and innovation. She cited examples of Filipino-owned companies that started from humble beginnings, but which are now major players in the Philippines as well as abroad. She also noted the many stories of OFWs who have become successful entrepreneurs. Lastly, she encouraged successful entrepreneurs to mentor those who are just planning or starting their business ventures. 

The other speakers at the Forum included Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of the UNIDO – ITPO in Bahrain, Dr. Bettina Lynda Bastian, Dean of the College of Business and Law of the RUW, Ms. Ahlam Yusuf Janahi, former President of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society, and Mr. Nawaf Mohamed AlKoheji, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tenmou. The latter is a tech-focused angel investor and ecosystem builder in Bahrain. 

In closing the Forum, Dr. Ilene Agana of the EagleMind Business Consultancy and Chair of PTAB’s Entrepreneurship Club thanked all the participants and encouraged them to help build an ecosystem that will facilitate awareness and capacity-building for entrepreneurs. She expressed the hope that the Forum will forge a network that will link the entrepreneurs with the academe and with government and private institutions. END

CDA Louis (center) at the entrepreneurs’ exhibition with (L-R) Dr. Ilene Agana, Chair of PTAB’s Entrepreneurship Club and EagleMind Business Consultancy, Dr. Bettina Lyndia Bastian, Dean of the College of Business and Law of RUW, Dr. Nehal El Naggar, Acting Manager of Student Affairs and Assistant Professor, College of Business and Law of RUW, and Prof. Jean Pierre El Asma, Academic Vice President and Dean of the College of Art and Design of RUW. (Manama PE photos)

CDA Louis with several of the Filipino women entrepreneurs who joined the Annual Entrepreneurship Exhibition and Forum 2023 at the Royal University for Women on 16 February 2023. (Manama PE photos)

For more information, visit https://www.manamape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinBahrain, or https://www.instagram.com/phlinbahrain/.