INJAZ AL-ARAB Successfully Concludes 10th Annual Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition

  • Roshena from Bahrain won the ‘High School Company of the Year’

  • Watad from Saudi Arabia received the coveted ‘University Company of the Year’ award

Manama, Bahrain – 24 November 2016

Under the kind patronage of HRH Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Chairman of the “Waqf” Isa bin Salman Educational Charity, INJAZ Al-Arab, a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA), concluded the 10th chapter of the annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition yesterday evening. Hosted at the ART Rotana Hotel in Amwaj, the event saw 20 teams made up of young Arab entrepreneurs from across the MENA region compete to win the highly covered titles of “University Company of the Year” and “School Company of the Year”, in addition to seven other awards.

This year’s winners were declared last night at a glittering ceremony held with over 400 guests in attendance including His Highness Shaikh Isa Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Winning the top spot University Company of the Year was Watad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Roshena from the Kingdom of Bahrain for the High School Company of the Year award.

The University and High School Product of the Year awards were given to Ecoouifia from Morocco and Wasila from Egypt respectively. Other accolades went to esteemed winners included the Best Social Impact award which was granted to Grow from Algeria for the University category and Jedmer from Tunisia for the High School category. Bellora from Oman won the 2016 FedEx Access Award, Citi Client Focus Award also went to Roshena from the Kingdom of Bahrain and the MBC Al Amal Best PSA of the Year Award was won by Watad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the success of the competition, INJAZ Bahrain Executive Director Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa said: “We are extremely proud of all our participating students from across the region for their hard work, dedication and creativity in adapting business concepts to real-life applications. Their efforts over the last six months have taken them a long way and they have demonstrated their capabilities in their presentations. We are especially proud that Bahrain was able to act as first time host for the annual competition in its remarkable 10th anniversary. The INJAZ Al Arab’s National Company Program Competition has had its bar set high for next year’s participants, we are excited to see what the future holds for INJAZ’s students.”

vbju4069

INJAZ Bahrain Chairman, Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery added, “It has been an incredible experience to see these young students present their ingenious products and business propositions.  The Kingdom of Bahrain has excelled in hosting such a spectacular event for the region.  When we realize that over 60% of the jobs these young leaders will be doing in the future don’t even exist yet, you begin to understand how critical the role INJAZ has in building opportunities.  I believe that through INJAZ Bahrain, we have created a solid and worthwhile springboard that will equip young minds to take on the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”

Commenting on the completion of the competition, Akef Aqrabawi. President and CEO, JA Middle East/ North Africa, INJAZ Al-Arab said: “At the end of each YEC we find ourselves overwhelmed with positivity & hope. This year was nothing short of enthusiasm, confidence and optimism as the youthful entrepreneurial abilities reassured us that our vision is still as flourishing and as alive as ever. Thank you to all who made our journey prosperous and enlightening, and to all of the thriving youth that dedicated their entrepreneurial intelligence towards inventing, revolutionizing and advancing the future. May we continue to empower & educate our youth as we embrace and work towards our path to 1 million students annually by 2022.”

The regional competition was conducted in partnership with a variety of esteemed sponsors such as GPIC, Tamkeen, EDB, Banagas, Bapco, Batelco, MBC Al Amal, Citi Foundation, FedEx, Ithmaar Bank, Alba, Gulf Air, Khaleeji Commercial Bank, Al Salam Bank, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Bahrain Ministry of Education, Sadiq Transport and Bahrain Airport Company.

The annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Arab Entrepreneurs Competition follows the completion of individual country rounds and closes six months of training in work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship based on INJAZ Al-Arab’s internationally acclaimed Company Program©. In total 20 teams from Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Pakistan showcased their business insight, financial knowledge, marketing support and feasibility studies to the esteemed panel of judges: Mr. Ramzi Abdel Jaber (InvestCorp Bank), Mr. Fadhel Alansari (Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC)), Dr. Abdul Malek Al Jaber (Peppers & Rogers Group (Teletech)), Ms. Mariam Farag (MBC Group), Mr. Bashar Al Khadhi (H+K Strategies), Mr. Mazen Manaa (Credit Agricole CIB), Dr. Abdulla Bader Al Sada (Tamkeen), Mr. Sjoerd Leenart (JP Morgan), Mr. Neeraj Agrawal (Crescent Group), Mr. Omar Bennis (Coca-Cola), Ms. Nadera Abuali (Citi Bank), Mr. Mohammad Zhort, (FedEx), Mr. Kamal Najjar (FedEx).

Bahrain-based digital platform and publication for startups in the Middle East. Exclusive events, in-depth workshops, insightful content, and informative news. In strategic partnership with Tamkeen Bahrain, Zain Bahrain, National Bank of Bahrain, Zoho, Tenmou, and StartUp Bahrain.

Startup MGZN © 2020. All Rights Reserved.