Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA1247
2005-08-29 05:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER ON G8-BMENA ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Tags:  PREL ECON KMPI BA 
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290557Z Aug 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001247 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, E, EB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON KMPI BA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON G8-BMENA ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CENTER

REF: MANAMA 1185

Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001247

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, E, EB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON KMPI BA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON G8-BMENA ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CENTER

REF: MANAMA 1185

Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) In an August 27 meeting covering several subjects,
Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa told
the Ambassador that Bahrain supports the Bahrain Center for
Entrepreneurial Excellence (BCEE) and wants to see it up and
running soon. In response to the Ambassador's question,
Shaikh Mohammed said that Beyster Institute expert David
Mosby is welcome to come to Bahrain to start his work as soon
as he is able, "even tomorrow."


2. (SBU) Shaikh Mohammed said that the GOB was seeking
funding for a facility for the BCEE. The BCEE would be "an
unwelcome guest" at the Bahrain Institute for Banking and
Finance (BIBF),a finance industry, not government, supported
institution. The BIBF had agreed to house the BCEE
temporarily, perhaps two to three years, but Shaikh Mohammed
said he would prefer not to have to use it at all. In
response to the Minister's question, the Ambassador said that
funding a building, or even a feasibility study for a
building, was outside MEPI's scope. Shaikh Mohammed said
that the BCEE will be a G8-BMENA establishment and, as such,
the G8 should fund development of an independent Center. The
Ambassador noted that Mosby, among his other duties, could
assist the GOB in identifying longer-term facilities options
for the BCEE, and in attracting funding.


3. (C) Shaikh Mohammed said that Bahrain would host a
meeting of the Forum for the Future (FfF) steering committee
at its Embassy in London on Friday, September 9. He asked
whether NEA PDAS Cheney plans to attend. He noted that Crown
Prince Salman will be in London at that time and intends to
host a lunch in honor of steering committee participants.
Shaikh Mohammed stated that the November 11-12 FfF conference
in Manama should highlight for the people of the BMENA region
progress made on the many initiatives discussed at Sea Island
and Rabat. The September 9 meeting is a good opportunity to
get updates and make decisions about which initiatives to
focus on.

MONROE