Manama: As part of Bahrain Bourse’s ongoing efforts to develop the capital market in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Bahrain Bourse has launched the ‘Trading Incentives Scheme’ to enable market participants, including market makers, liquidity providers, and other brokers, to obtain rebates for market-making and liquidity provision.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the ‘Trading Incentives Scheme’ is expected to take effect on 1 January 2025, with implementation details to be announced one month prior. This scheme aligns with a key objective of the Financial Services Sector Development Strategy (2022-2026) and complements the recently launched Listing Incentives Program by Bahrain Bourse.
The objective of the Trading Incentives Scheme is to encourage market makers, liquidity providers, and other brokers to increase their trading volume in line with Bahrain Bourse’s business rules and cleared by Bahrain Clear, thereby stimulating greater market liquidity. Under the scheme, market makers will be eligible for up to a
60% rebate on trading commissions for listed securities in which they serve as market makers.
The scheme further complements the Listing Incentives Program, aimed at encouraging privately held companies to list on both the Mainboard and Bahrain Investment Market, and supports the Financial Services Sector Development Strategy (2022-2026). Additionally, the scheme aligns with the recently launched Market Making and Liquidity Provision Guidelines, aiming to attract new market participants.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Bourse, stated, ‘The Trading Incentives Scheme has been rolled out to deepen market liquidity and encourage active participation by market participants. The Listing Incentives Program and Trading Incentives Scheme launched by Bahrain Bourse will boost liquidity and attract further listings, aligning with the Financial Services Sector Development Strategy 2022-2026, and reflect Bahrain Bourse’s ongoing efforts to significantly enhance Bahrain’s capital markets and contrib
ute to the Kingdom’s economic growth.’
‘The Trading Incentives Scheme, together with the Listing Incentives Program, will support both sell-side and buy-side activities in the capital markets and further complement planned digitalisation initiatives to be launched by Bahrain Bourse over the next quarter, significantly benefiting and elevating the landscape of Bahrain’s capital markets,” Shaikh Khalifa added.
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Tamkeen and AstroLabs Partner to Propel Bahraini Enterprises into Saudi Arabia.
Manama: The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) signed a partnership agreement with AstroLabs, a leading platform supporting business expansion in the Gulf region. This collaboration aims to launch a programme designed to encourage Bahraini business owners of various sizes to expand their commercial activities into the neighbouring Saudi market across different economic sectors. The announcement was made during Tamkeen’s participation in the ‘Biban 24’ forum, organised by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises ‘Monsha’at’ and held under the theme ‘A Global Destination for Opportunities,’ from November 5-9 in Riyadh.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the programme will focus on supporting Bahraini entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses and embark on their expansion journey in regional markets. It will provide specialised advisory support in business development, including a comprehensive introduction to the regulations and laws of the target market, as well as marketing strategies that help highlig
ht products and services in new markets to ensure success. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with potential partners, customers, and suppliers, enabling them to establish networks to support their expansion.
Her Excellency Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), emphasised the importance of this programme in providing a clear roadmap for Bahraini entrepreneurs eager to take the next step for their enterprises through expansion into regional markets, such as the rapidly growing Saudi market. She added, ‘This programme is one of our initiatives aimed at supporting private sector companies in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to encourage the expansion of Bahraini businesses and the export of Bahraini products and services. Through effective partnerships in the programme led by experts and specialists in the target market, participants will be able to minimise potential risks and enhance the chances of success for their business expansion and growth.’
This prog
ramme aligns with Tamkeen’s 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through new employment opportunities for new entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to the Bahraini workforce, and further developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity and adoption of technology.
On this occasion, Roland Daher, Chief Executive of AstroLabs, expressed his pleasure in this collaboration and added, ‘Bahrain has always been home to ambitious, innovative companies with real depth, ready to take the next step in their growth journey. Today, expanding to Saudi Arabia has become the natural next move in this evolution, offering an expansive and rapidly growing market, right next door. AstroLabs has been the trusted partner for over 650 global companies expanding into Saudi to date, and we’re very excited to collaborate with Tamkeen, a long-standing key driver of Bahrain’s entrepreneu
rial success. As a partner of choice for government entities across the region and globally, we focus on building strong growth corridors and seamless soft landing experiences, helping high-growth businesses – whether Bahraini or global – thrive in Saudi Arabia.’
This programme will support the growth of Bahraini companies and their expansion into the Saudi market, specifically in the Eastern Region and the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh.
AstroLabs aims to facilitate the expansion and growth of global companies in the Gulf region. The platform has supported nearly 1,650 international companies in expanding their operations across the region, providing a professional environment that enables businesses to enter new markets, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In collaboration with public and private sector partners, AstroLabs designs various programmes to support innovation, bridge gaps across different economic sectors in the Gulf, and target emerging markets. Additionally, it contribute
s to national strategies aimed at achieving sustainable development goals, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.