Tamkeen supports expansion project of Gulf Closures

TDT | Manama                                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

In line with its 2024 strategic priorities, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) supported the expansion project of Gulf Closures, a joint venture between Aptar Group, one of the world’s largest providers of packaging solutions for beverages, food commodities, cosmetics, household cleaning products, and medicines, and Al Zayani Industries, a leading Bahrain-based industrial conglomerate.

The initiative supports the expansion of a manufacturing plant, Gulf Closures, aimed at producing high-quality packaging products in the Kingdom of Bahrain to serve the Middle East and North Africa region.

Tamkeen’s support for the project includes training for Bahraini talents in the company, representing 78% of the workforce, as well as supporting the partial acquisition of state-of-the-art machinery and equipment for the factory, contributing to the expected creation of approximately 20 new job opportunities for local talent.

Tamkeen will also support the participation of five Bahrainis in a specialised training programme at Aptar’s European headquarters through its “Global Ready Talent Programme” to ensure they are equipped with the required technical skills in operating the cutting-edge equipment provided for the factory. “We are proud of our pivotal role in supporting the expansion of Gulf Closures through this impactful partnership between two regional and global industry leaders,” said Labour Fund (Tamkeen) Chief Executive Maha Mofeez on the occasion. “Aptar Group’s decision to invest in expanding a manufacturing facility in Bahrain reflects the Kingdom’s favourable business and investment environment, which includes various support packages, a skilled national workforce, and competitive operational costs in addition to government policies and regulatory frameworks that attract business.

"Bahrain's strategic location in the region, in close proximity to the largest regional consumer markets, adds to its attractiveness to businesses.” This initiative benefits from the available opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa markets, and accordingly, Aptar products will be manufactured locally in the Kingdom of Bahrain and exported, thereby further enhancing operational efficiency and fortifying the supply chain while driving the growth of the manufacturing sector in Bahrain.

This sector is a vital driver of the national economy, contributing 14% to Bahrain’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022, making it the second-largest non-oil contributor with an annual growth rate of 4.9%.

Supporting this project contributes to creating new jobs in the sector, attracting modern technologies, and refining the skills of the national workforce through an exchange of experience and knowledge. “Through our local expertise and the capabilities of Aptar Group and its global leadership, we will be able to expand the scope of activities at Gulf Closures from 1.5 billion caps to reach 2.5 billion caps annually,” said Al Zayani Industries Managing Director, Rashid Al Zayani.