Under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, His Excellency Mr. Khaled Al-Roudhan, Fikra Program concluded its 3rd version of the Entrepreneurship Training Program with a closing ceremony at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre on 3 April 2018. Gulf Bank was amongst the sponsors of this program, which aims to provide business owners with the tools and support they need to develop their own innovative companies.

Managed by Cubical Solutions Business Incubator, Fikra Program is an extensive training program that provides aspiring business owners with the tools and support they call for to establish their very own innovative business. The training includes management skills, thorough business planning, marketing, financial investment possibilities, navigating legal issues and agreements, and a range of various other concerns in order to help business owners obtain their organisations off the ground. The program additionally offers one-on- one mentoring for the striving business owners.

Ms. Esra AlHabib, External Communications Manager at Gulf Bank said, "We more than happy to see the enhancement made by the individuals in the program, whose suggestions have grown a lot throughout the training duration, from the workshops to the mentorship duration, and currently, today at the close of this edition. Fikra Program took these great suggestions and developed them into full-fledged companies, ready to enter the marketplace. At Gulf Bank, we are devoted to supporting these younger efforts and tasks and think that such support is important to the advancement of our nation. We are proud of our participants and anticipate speaking with them and much more entrepreneurs in the future."

Adhering to the second version of the program which wrapped up in Could 2017, over 30% of the businesses are fully functional and the rest are close to operating. Incorporated, the 3 editions of Fikra Program witnessed over 550 applications, 45 business concepts, 57 training sessions and 76 trained entrepreneurs. In the third version, entrepreneurs wrapped up 20 entrepreneurship training programs over a period of 4 months, followed by a mentoring stage. That led up to the final event, which was preceded by a final exhibit of their projects.

Ms. Mariam Hisham Al Rayes, Fikra Program Manager at Cubical Services Business Incubator, shared her feeling of satisfaction in the participants and the incredible work put in by all of them to make certain that their business suggestions were created. Ms. Al Rayes stated: "When Fikra Program wased initially established, it was inspired by the concept of personifying a support system for driven aiming business owners. We are passionate about encouraging ambitious entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts and helping them attain their desires. Today, we take pride in what they have actually achieved and just what the Program had the ability to supply each individual. I would like to say thanks to all enrollers, advisors and trainers that added their time and efforts to guarantee that Kuwait's business owners are outfitted with exactly what they have to safeguard a brilliant and thriving future.

Congratulations to all individuals. We expect the 4th edition of Fikra Program, and are excited to sustain new and innovative concepts by striving business owners and assist them establish their services."

Complying with the ceremony, a variety of Fikra Program business owners from the 2nd and 3rd editions will certainly take part in the 2018 GOAL Start-up Pitch Competition, held at the Dubai World Trade Facility under the patronage of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Gulf Bank is a gold sponsor of the Fikra Program, an extensive entrepreneurship training program that offers aspiring entrepreneurs with the technological skills and business knowledge needed to introduce their own businesses such as leadership skills, detailed business strategy design, mentorship, financial analysis, media exposure, and investment possibilities, for the second successive year.

Fikra Program is under the patronage of H.E. Khaled Al Roudan, Minister of Business & Industry and is proudly supported by Ministry of State for Young People Matters, The National Fund for SME Growth, Al Hamra Realty Company, Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co, Gulf Bank, Markaz Financial Facility, Lexus Kuwait as a part of Al Sayer Group, and Grand Cinemas. Fikra Program is managed by Cubical Provider Business Incubator.

For more information on Gulf Bank, please check out one of Gulf Bank's 57 branches, call 1805805, browse through to www.e-gulfbank.com, or check out Gulf Bank's social media networks.