NEA/PI DIRECTOR ROMANOWSKI DISCUSSES BMENA WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000368

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2015
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PGOV BA
SUBJECT: NEA/PI DIRECTOR ROMANOWSKI DISCUSSES BMENA WITH
MFA, FINANCE MINISTRY

REF: MANAMA 300

Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) NEA/PI Office Director Alina Romanowski discussed the
Broader Middle East/North Africa (BMENA) initiative with MFA
Assistant Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow-up
Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and Ministry of
Finance Director for Economic Planning Yousef Humood during a
March 8-9 visit to Bahrain. She also met with Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs/Minister of Information Mohammed
Abdul Ghaffar about reorganizing Bahrain TV (septel). In her
meeting with Shaikh Abdul Aziz and MFA Director of Bilateral
Relations Dhafer Al Umran, she raised GOB preparations for
this year's Forum for the Future conference, to be held in
Bahrain. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that the timing was still
not fixed, but that the GOB would coordinate with the
Europeans to ensure that the Forum does not conflict with the
Euro-Med Barcelona anniversary event on November 27-28. He
mentioned November 11-12 as potential dates for the Forum.


2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz added that if Bahrain is to succeed
with its reform process, it must have the backing of the G8.
Noting that neighboring Saudi Arabia and Kuwait do not even
allow women to vote, he hoped G8 countries would "make what
we're doing work" by publicly recognizing Bahrain's reform
moves at the Forum. Shaikh Abdul Aziz and Al Umran both
mentioned that at this year's Forum, NGOs should play a much
more prominent role than they did at the Morocco meeting.


3. (C) On the Bahrain Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence
(BCEE),Shaikh Abdul Aziz stressed that getting broad G8
support is a top priority for the GOB. He noted that he
would meet shortly with representatives of the Japanese
government and would ask them to consider supporting the
BCEE. In a separate meeting, the Ministry of Finance's
Yousef Humood told Romanowski that he had also been in touch
with the Japanese, British, and French about the BCEE. They
gave initial indications of support for the center but
requested a concrete plan that they could consider. He
explained that this was the reason for his insisting that the
Beyster Institute, MEPI contractors for the BCEE, create a
business plan by June (reftel). The plan would be used to
solicit G8 and regional support for the center. Romanowski
cautioned Humood from pressing hard for funding to construct
a building to house the center. The BCEE should not be
viewed as an infrastructure project. Humood responded that
the GOB wants the center to be a showcase for the BMENA
initiative in the region, and a building will be necessary
down the road.


4. (C) Humood said that in addition to training, he would
want the BCEE to provide follow-up services for graduates.
These would include providing the trainees with links to
development funding facilities to finance their projects,
management advice, and general guidance and mentoring. Such
an array of services would greatly increase the percentage of
successful graduates. In response to Romanowski's question,
Humood admitted that the GOB had not yet discussed these
ideas with Beyster.


5. (C) When asked to compare development of the two
Entrepreneurship Centers in Bahrain and Morocco, Humood said
that Morocco has much more experience working on
entrepreneurship and business development than Bahrain does,
perhaps because of Morocco's proximity to and dealings with
Europe. Morocco has the "full picture" on entrepreneurship
training. On the other hand, Bahrain has access to more
sources of funding, from the Gulf region, than Morocco, and
he wants to build up this strength.


6. (U) Ms. Romanowski cleared this cable.

MONROE