Bahrain : Israel’s Start-Up Nation Central has announced the launch of “Connect2Innovate” Conference in Bahrain, for business leaders of both countries, on March 13-15.The Industry and Commerce Ministry (MOIC), Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB), the Embassy of Bahrain in Israel, and the Embassy of Israel in Bahrain, worked together to launch this event.Israel’s Start-Up Nation Central is a nonprofit organization that connects governments, corporations and investors to the Israeli innovation ecosystem.The event will bring together government officials, major companies, international organizations, business communities, and tech innovators, to focus on challenges across fintech, logistics and supply changes, water, energy and climate.The conference will include a unique policy track, including workshops on tech ecosystem building and human capital development, challenges that both countries face and can share knowledge and best practices.Industry Minister Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro affirmed that the conference will bring together visionary speakers from business sectors in Bahrain and Israel, to explore the opportunities and challenges in the fields of innovation and technology.”This event is a unique opportunity for both Bahrain and Israel to come together and share their experiences, best practices, and work towards developing innovative solutions that will drive progress and growth in the industry,” he said.”The potential for collaboration between our nations is vast, and this conference will serve as a platform to harness this human capital and develop new technologies, business models and economic opportunities,” the minister said.”The Connect2Innovate conference is taking place in Manama as both Israel and Bahrain are moving forward to realize the vision of the Abraham Accords and the opportunities it offers us all as it strives to reach its fullest potential,” Israeli Ambassador Etan Na’eh said.”Taking the Accords from a vision to reality, relations between our two countries are moving forward as we harness both countries’ added values- our human capital, mutual quest for peace, security and prosperity through innovation, economic cooperation, and progress,” he said.”The conference will allow our business communities to explore ways to cooperate moving forward together, by creating a model of close friendly relations plus cooperation in innovation equals opportunities for growth and prosperity,” he added.”Over the past two decades, Bahrain has emerged as an important player on the international stage, with a growing economy that offers exciting investment opportunities,” Start-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson said.”Innovation and technology are essential elements in this partnership and can help translate the agreements into practical bilateral trade that can revolutionize the entire region as it tried to align to new development goals,” Hasson added.During the conference’s opening ceremony, a live signing of a series of MOUs between Israeli and Bahraini entities will take place to pave the way for a surge of B2B and G2G activities – particularly in the fields of fintech, manufacturing, logistics, water, energy and climate.The second and third days of the conference will include professional workshops, lectures, business panels, pitch sessions and roundtable discussions around separate business and policy tracks.
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