Bahrain’s Labour Fund Tamkeen has signed a deal with France-based Fives Group to send 14 engineering graduates to Europe for six-to-12-month placements, giving fresh talent the on-the-job skills local manufacturers say they can’t find fast enough.
The agreement falls under Tamkeen’s Global Ready Talent programme, which matches Bahrainis with internships at multinationals to accelerate career growth and plug domestic skill gaps. Participants—mechanical, industrial and technical engineers—will rotate through Fives’ plants in Italy, France and Switzerland, learning advanced production methods that feed sectors from aluminium to aerospace. Manufacturing already contributes 14 per cent of Bahrain’s real GDP and employs 11 per cent of the private-sector workforce, but only a quarter of those roles are held by nationals.
Tamkeen Chief Executive, Maha Mofeez, mentions that partnerships like this one align with the Economic Recovery Plan’s push for higher-value jobs and deeper local know-how. Fives, which has trained Bahrainis since 2003, will run the programme with Bahrain Polytechnic to ensure graduates return with industry-recognised competencies. The initiative builds on last year’s Global Ready Talent cohort, where more than 20 Bahrainis trained at Citi, Arla Foods and Prodrive International. For founders running factories in Salman Industrial City—or startups building Industry 4.0 tooling—the move promises a pipeline of engineers versed in European quality standards and lean-manufacturing frameworks, reducing reliance on imported expertise.
“This initiative builds on the success of our previous partnership with Fives Group, enriching the ecosystem and refining the skills of national talent according to changing market needs so we can increase their competitiveness locally and internationally,” said Maha Mofeez.
Engineering graduates can apply for the next Global Ready Talent intake through Tamkeen’s portal.
