Business Development Program

The changes to the program include integrating the Business Development program with Wage Support as one, to effectively serve the needs of enterprises. The program is set to include the largest possible segment of enterprises, including micro, small, and medium, as the areas of support within the Business Development program have been extended with more flexibility to include objective based tracks, different types of wage support, and supporting service providers with virtual CRs.

The updated version of the Business Development program will cover:

• Items and services for business requirements
• Human Capital support for Bahraini employees

• Machinery & Equipment
• Information Communication & Technology (ICT)
• Cloud Computing
• Marketing & Branding
• Exhibition Participation
• Business Consulting
• Quality Improvement
• Accounting
• Auditing
• Leasing

All services are supported 50% with the exception of Cloud Computing that is supported 100% up to the allocated grant amount.

• • Full-time Employees (up to BHD 400 per month)
  • Part-time Employees (up to BHD 135 per month)
  • Virtual CR Owners (up to BHD 1800)
  • Wage Increment (up to 40% of increment or BHD 200 per month – whichever is lower)
  • Internship (up to BHD 200 per month)
  • Outsourcing (up to BHD 100 per month per job per employee )

  All services are supported 50% across 18 months with the exception of:
  
  

  • Virtual CR Owners: support is limited to 6 months (3 quarterly payments of BHD 600)
  • Internships: 80% support for a minimum 6 months and maximum 9 months.

• Enterprise should have an active CR/license in the Kingdom of Bahrain
• Enterprise is classified as micro, small or medium (up to 100 employees and/or revenues up to BHD 3 million)
• Enterprise should not have an active contract under the Business Development program in its previous version
• Enterprise should not be owned more than 50% by the Government
• Enterprise should not have an active LMRA offenses
• Enterprises should not have active violation(s) or blacklisted by Tamkeen

• Virtual CRs, micro, small and medium enterprises
• Large enterprises are excluded to benefit from the program (more than 100 employees or BD 3M revenues)

You may apply to the program; however, you will not be granted any financial support until your license status is “Active”.

No, it is not possible.

Yes, however your contract/application will not be re-evaluated.

No, in case the enterprise converts their Conventional CR to a Virtual CR it will be considered as a violation.

Yes, it is possible, but the branches are required to have similar business activities.

Yes, as long it is for different business activities.

• Create and activate an online account with Tamkeen
• Login to Tamkeen’s portal and add your enterprise details under “My Ventures”
• Click on Business Development and start filling an application
• Provide enterprise bank details and attach supporting documents
• Select areas of support then submit application

The enterprise must provide information related to the entity, including but not limited to: information about business goals, operations, marketing, human capital, financial data, etc.

The application process varies depending on the enterprise size and requirements. The process can take an average of 3 hours depending on the availability of information.

• Last month bank statement
• Last month EWA bill (not required for Virtual CRs)
• Smart Card for Primary and/or Authorized Signatory
• Authorization letter to the authorized person (if needed)
• Management Accounts/ Audited Financial Statements (if available)
• Feasibility Study/ Business Plan (if available)
• Pictures of the outdoor signboard
• Pictures of the office/workspace
• Quotations/ proposals for (Machinery & Equipment, Marketing, ICT, etc.)
• Employment Contracts/ job description for employees

• Tamkeen will review the comprehensiveness of the application form and authenticity/completeness of the documents
• Tamkeen then will initiate a virtual site visit to inspect the suitability of the premises and size (if required)
• Tamkeen will initiate a virtual meeting session to understand the customer’s requirements (if required)
• Tamkeen will assess the application and support requested and calculate a grant amount
• If deemed eligible Tamkeen will issue an approval

The enterprise has the option to select between 3, 4 or 5 years as a contract period to execute desired plans and utilize the support.

It is a video call with the applicant where the applicant will be asked to turn on their camera to conduct the virtual site visit. The call will be recorded for validation purposes.

The applicant is contacted to set the preferred time/date for the virtual visit. A text message with a link will then be sent to start the site visit over the phone.

It is an audio/video call with the applicant to assess the needs of the enterprise.

The applicant is contacted to set the preferred meeting time/date, followed by an email and SMS to confirm the virtual meeting.

The owner(s) of the enterprise, or the authorized representative of the enterprise.

The enterprise will receive a detailed letter once the application is approved, which includes all agreed items/services to be supported by Tamkeen for the period of the contract. The support approval specifies the following:

• The total amount of the grant and areas of support
• Necessary actions to be taken
• Approved items/services and details of human capital support in each area
• Special conditions that the enterprise must meet to obtain the final approval (if necessary)
• Main terms and conditions related to the program

The enterprise can amend the areas of ​​support by adding and deleting the required items/services according to the priorities and needs of the enterprise.

Yes, via Tamkeen’s online portal.

• For Human Capital support:
  1. The enterprise and employee must confirm the “Support Approval”, by clicking on the link that will be sent by e-mail and text messages
• For the items/services:
  1. The enterprise must confirm the “Support Approval”
  2. Completing the purchase of the listed items/services prior to the monitoring due date

• For items/services: enterprise must purchase and submit a payment request prior to monitoring due date which is the last 18 months of the contract duration
• For Human Capital: till the end of the contract duration

• Enterprises with an active application under the previous version of the Business Development cannot submit a new application
• Enterprises with an active application under the Training & Wage Support program can submit a new application

• For items/services: the enterprise has the option of paying via Fawateer for local vendors 50% or 100%. For overseas vendors or paying through cheques/bank transfer, the enterprise must pay 100%.
• For Human Capital support: the enterprise must pay through a cheque/bank transfer.
  

  
  Cash payments are strictly prohibited and shall not be considered.

• For items/services paid through cheques/bank transfer:
  • Invoice
  • Copy of Cheque/Transfer
  • Receipt
  • Enterprise Bank Statement
  • Receipt
  • Delivery Note (for items/services)
  • Proof of deliverables (for services)
    
    
• For Human Capital (wage support) paid through cheque/bank transfer:
  • Pay slip for the month
  • Copy of Cheque/Transfer
  • Enterprise Bank Statement
    
    
• For items/services paid via Fawateer:
  • Proof of deliverables (for services)

Virtual CR owners can:

• Receive up to BHD 1,800 wage support for a period of 6 months (3 quarterly payments of BHD 600)
• Provide services to enterprises

As of now, Tamkeen’s support is limited to items/services and Human Capital, excluding training.

National Employment Program targets individuals who graduated in the past 12 months and job seekers registered within the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Salaries are supported across 36 months (70% for the first year, 50% for the second year, 30% for the third year).

The Business Development Programs targets different types of individuals:

• Full-time Employees: 50% wage support across 18 months (up to BHD 400 per month)
• Part-time Employees: 50% wage support across 18 months (up to BHD 135 per month)
• Wage Increment: 50% wage support across 18 months (up to 40% of salary or BHD 200 per month – whichever is lower)
• Internship: 80% stipend support across 9 months (up to BHD 150 for diploma holders and up to BHD 200 for Bachelor degree holders)

• Outsourcing: up to 50% or BHD 100 per month across 18 months for jobs outsourced

You are required to input the employee’s salary as per the SIO.

The enterprise must pay the employee’s salary and then request for a payment once due. Tamkeen will issue a schedule of payments with due dates upon approval which can be viewed via the portal.

Minimum salaries must be met to benefit from the Wage Support:

• High School BHD 300
• Diploma BHD 380
• Bachelor BHD 450

You are required to “Dropout” the employee via the portal. You will be eligible to receive the support for the months the employee served your enterprise.

Budget will not be affected and can be utilized again.