- CEO of Bahrain Economic Development Board gave insightful business advice to MEBG members
Singapore, Wednesday, 25 March 2009 - Local businessmen hoping to find good business leads amid the global recession could get them in the Middle East - touted to be the beacon in the current economic world. The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) helped to make this pipe dream happen as it hosted a business dialogue session between the Middle East Business Group (MEBG) members and key Bahrain officials today.
This dialogue session was held in conjunction with the visit of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Economic Development Board to Singapore under the Singapore International Foundation's (SIF) Middle East Eminent Persons' Programme (MEEP). The session is also one of the many MEBG's activities that have helped Singapore companies leverage on the opportunities in the emerging Middle East and North African markets. MEBG was launched in March 2007 by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, together with His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain.
During the dialogue session, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Economic Development Board outlined potential business opportunities in Bahrain's Information and Communication Technology (ICT), logistics, education and training, financial and manufacturing industries to the 10 local senior management staff present. Mr. Teng Theng Dar, SBF CEO and the Chairman of MEBG, was the chair and moderator of this session.
The businessmen, who are from the financial services, education and training, ICT, legal, utilities, real estate, construction and engineering sectors, found his Excellency's business tips useful for their companies' business development and future forays into the country. One such business participant was Ms. Linda Lim, the Assistant Director of Informatics Education Ltd.
"His Excellency gave a very insightful overview on the business trends and possible business opportunities in the education sector of Bahrain. Some of the trends he mentioned included the possible revamp of the tertiary programme for the University of Bahrain as well as the liberalization of the private education sector. This dialogue session was also very useful as we met Bahrain officials who will assist in linking us to relevant business contacts in Bahrain," said Ms. Lim.
Looking ahead, plans for the Bahrain EDB to facilitate a business delegation visit to Singapore in 3Q09 are in the pipeline.
For more information on MEBG events and activities, please contact:
George Chan
Senior Executive
Americas, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Oceania
Singapore Business Federation
Email: market.amea@sbf.org.sg
Tel: 68276842
About the Middle East Business Group (MEBG)
The Middle East Business Group (MEBG) formed under the auspices of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), was launched in March 2007 with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain as the Guests-of-Honor and witnesses.
As Singapore's apex business chamber, SBF champions the interests of the business community in trade, investment and industrial relations. The SBF-MEBG will serve as a platform between the business communities in Singapore and those in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing networking opportunities and acting as a broad base facilitator. SBF-MEBG has especially made headway and paved the road for Singapore companies in the MENA region and has also assisted companies from the MENA region to successfully reach out to the Singapore business community.
MEBG brings together both the public and private sectors to create higher levels of synergy. Illustrious political leaders act as MEBG's advisors while prominent businessmen chair the group. This public-private partnership boosts the strength of MEBG as it forges ahead to bring together the business communities in Singapore and MENA region.
SBF-MEBG's VISION is to seek to be a premier representative and platform for exchange between both Singapore and MENA-based companies in their commercial pursuits. MEBG¡¯s MISSION is to facilitate trade and business opportunities between Singapore and MENA-based companies and its GOAL is to create a platform to enable businessmen to source for potential partners and projects and to be a useful information hub. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.sbf-mebg.org.sg
About Singapore Business Federation (SBF)
For media enquiries please contact:
Gerald De Cotta, Tel: 6827 6896
Genette Koh, Tel: 6827 6874
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