New push to help SMEs

The pressing needs of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were on the agenda yesterday.Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro chaired a key meeting to discuss the issue.Officials representing Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UNIDO, the Labour Minister, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Tamkeen, the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, the Electricity and Water Authority and the Bahrain Development Bank attended.They discussed ways to provide assistance to SMEs, particularly their need for workers.Dr Fakhro urged co-ordination between parties concerned to support their firms, being the cornerstone of national economy.He stressed the need to empower them to consolidate their competitiveness and have more edge.A team has been set up to follow up the directives issued by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to study the situation of SMEs and explore solutions addressing their problems.