US embassy cable - 05MANAMA368

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