Dr. Khalid Al Ghazzawi, CEO of Ebdaa – Bahrain Microfinance Company, announced during his speech at the opening of the second edition of the Gulf International Conference on Social Responsibility that over 12,000 Bahraini entrepreneurs have benefited from the company’s services. These entrepreneurs have collectively received around 22,000 microloans totalling approximately BD 24.7 million.
Dr. Al-Ghazzawi highlighted that 59% of these loans were directed towards young Bahraini women and men under the age of 45. Notably, 43.7% of the loans were allocated to women, while men received 56.3% of the loans.
“Ebdaa is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and empowering Bahraini entrepreneurs through microfinance,” stated Dr. Al-Ghazzawi, “On a related level, Ebdaa emphasizes providing suitable job opportunities as part of its national duty and actively engages in the national employment program. The company has achieved an 82% Bahrainization rate with a workforce exceeding 60 employees, including 33 females, 7 of whom hold senior leadership roles.”
Dr. Al-Ghazzawi highlighted that Bahraini women’s representation in “Ebdaa Bahrain” is the highest among all nine banks in the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) across the Arab region and Africa. This underscores the company’s dedication to social responsibility principles and its efforts to engage Bahraini youth while empowering and advancing women within its ranks.
In this context, the CEO of Ebdaa Company highlighted the significant support received since its establishment in 2009 from Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the support of the late His Royal Highness Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of AGFUND. This backing has facilitated collaboration across the private sector, involving prominent businesswomen and businessmen within the Kingdom, alongside the public sector represented by the Bahrain Housing and Development Bank and the AGFUND program.
Dr. Al-Ghazzawi commended Ebdaa’s partnerships with Tamkeen and the Supreme Council for Women, highlighting their pivotal role in enhancing the company’s initiatives. These efforts have successfully delivered numerous services to citizens through diverse programs, aiding in the establishment and expansion of micro-enterprises, which have in turn created employment opportunities and expanded market reach regionally.
Dr. Al-Ghazzawi elaborated on Ebdaa Microfinance Company’s mission, established with a clear vision to support individuals and small projects by providing essential financing to realize their aspirations and enhance their capabilities. Working diligently within Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 framework, Ebdaa focuses on empowering economically disadvantaged groups, particularly women and youth, and supports initiatives aimed at fostering development, solidarity, and societal progress across Bahrain.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Ghazzawi emphasized Ebdaa’s commitment to sustainable development principles and promoting positive social and environmental practices within Bahrain and underscored the role of corporate social responsibility in bolstering the national economy and improving community services, highlighting Ebdaa’s adherence to international standards, including those for social responsibility, as integral to its operations.
