Tamkeen and Bahrain Economic Development Board Outline National Action Plan Priorities

TDT | Manama

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The Bahrain Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator held its second meeting with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Co-Chairs from the public and private sectors, marking a key milestone following its launch during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year and the subsequent kick-off session, which established the Accelerator’s strategic direction and foundational pillars.

Coordinated by the “Skills Bahrain” initiative and jointly led by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the accelerator aims to empower national talent with future-ready skills and advance women’s workforce participation, thereby reinforcing Bahrain’s long-term economic growth and global competitiveness.

The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board; and Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), alongside the private sector Co-Chairs: His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat; His Excellency Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chairman of Alba; and Yaser Al Sharifi, Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks.

Discussions focused on key findings from the system-level analysis, which provided a data-driven foundation for identifying critical challenges within Bahrain’s skills ecosystem and opportunities to accelerate gender parity. The meeting also aligned stakeholders on priority pathways for the National Action Plan, supported by insights derived in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. Participants further explored practical approaches to address national skills gaps and capitalize on emerging opportunities, while drawing on the best global practices for local adaptation.

Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, ‘Our future-ready talent pool remains the driving force behind the Kingdom’s progress towards fostering a knowledge-driven economy. This collaboration with the World Economic Forum and Skills Bahrain places research-based data and insights at the foundation of this effort – enabling us to track outcomes and shape evidence-based strategies in partnership with the private sector that are directly aligned with Bahrain’s National Action Plan, reflecting our commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and closing the gender parity gap - cementing Bahrain’s earned standing as a trusted destination for investment.”

Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), noted that this phase establishes the foundation for a national action plan that strengthens public-private collaboration and responds to evolving labor market dynamics. She emphasized that Tameen remains committed to investing in Bahraini talent development, whilst focusing on empowering women and enhancing their participation in the national workforce.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum commented, ‘Bahrain’s Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator demonstrates how data-driven collaboration between government and business can unlock the full potential of the workforce and capitalize on the opportunities presented by a fast-evolving labor market. Ensuring that this transformation is inclusive is critical — and by combining a focus on skills and gender parity, this Accelerator has the potential to drive inclusive impact at scale.’

As the Accelerator transitions into the National Action Plan formulation stage, stakeholders will continue to collaborate with the World Economic Forum and private sector leaders to develop an evidence-based action-oriented framework to bridge skill gaps and promote gender parity across high-growth sectors. This collective effort reinforces Bahrain’s position as a leading hub for human capital development and future economic growth.