Mastercard and Tamkeen to Launch Mastercard Strive for SME Digital Empowerment in Bahrain

In a bold move to bolster small business resilience and economic inclusion, Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth has partnered with Bahrain’s Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to introduce the Mastercard Strive initiative in the Kingdom—marking the program’s first deployment in the Middle East. This strategic alliance is set to enhance financial and digital readiness for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), driving inclusive economic growth, compliance capability, and private sector competitiveness.

As Bahrain strengthens its position as a regional innovation and regulatory hub, the initiative will serve as a scalable model for public-private partnerships focused on SME development through regulatory technology solutions, financial literacy, and digital transformation. The Mastercard Strive programme equips SMEs with the tools to improve operational efficiency, navigate regulatory requirements, and adopt digital-first models that support growth and resilience in a changing economic landscape.

Speaking at the Global Inclusive Growth Summit (GIGS), Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, highlighted the program’s alignment with the Kingdom’s strategic priorities. “Bahrain has long championed a supportive ecosystem for SMEs, and this partnership with Mastercard will accelerate their ability to scale through financial innovation, digitization, and enhanced productivity,” he stated.

The initiative also aligns with the directives of Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, which include transformative national programs such as the upskilling of 50,000 Bahrainis in artificial intelligence by 2030. These efforts underscore a national commitment to workforce readiness, regulatory compliance, and digital adoption—ensuring Bahrainis are equipped for future labor market demands and private sector leadership.

Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasized the program’s significance: “This collaboration with Mastercard reflects our mission to empower Bahraini SMEs with the digital and financial capabilities necessary to future-proof their operations. Mastercard Strive offers bespoke expertise, enabling local businesses to thrive in a competitive regional landscape.”

The partnership will establish a dynamic ecosystem of financial and regulatory support, linking SMEs with compliance tools, digital infrastructure, and advisory services designed to improve their risk management, regulatory reporting, and market agility. This aligns closely with Tamkeen’s 2025 strategic agenda, which prioritizes enterprise growth, compliance automation, private sector digitization, and sustainable labor market development.

With Mastercard Strive now landing in Bahrain, the initiative not only signals a regional milestone for RegTech innovations but also reinforces the importance of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) in unlocking economic potential through technology and collaboration.