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Speaking on the occasion of International Youth Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Different Circumstances, Shared Aspirations,” Kanoo said that the care and support extended to Bahraini youth under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have contributed to developing a generation equipped with knowledge, ambition, and the ability to contribute to the Kingdom’s economic development.

He said the theme reflects the diverse circumstances and experiences of young people, while highlighting their shared aspiration for opportunities to develop their skills, achieve their ambitions, and shape their future. Turning these aspirations into meaningful opportunities, he noted, requires stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors, as well as educational and training institutions.

Kanoo commended the initiatives and programmes of His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, which aim to develop Bahraini youth and broaden their participation across various fields. He stressed the importance of enabling young people to gain practical experience and turn their ideas into productive projects and initiatives.

He noted that rapid developments in technology, the digital economy, and innovation are reshaping labour market requirements and creating demand for new skills. This makes it essential to strengthen the alignment between education, training, and the needs of economic sectors, while providing young people with practical experience that supports a smooth transition into the workforce.

Kanoo highlighted the private sector’s important role in providing employment, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities for Bahraini youth. He called on private sector institutions to expand professional development programmes and give young talent greater opportunities to take on responsibility and contribute to business development.

He added that entrepreneurship offers an important pathway for young people, noting that the success of startups depends not only on financing, but also on mentorship, market access, practical experience, and connections with the business community.

Kanoo affirmed that the Bahrain Chamber is committed to preparing young people and strengthening their connection with the private sector through programmes and initiatives that provide practical exposure to the business environment, including the “Experinece It” programme. The Chamber also continues to support SMEs and entrepreneurs and facilitate engagement between emerging entrepreneurs and established business owners.

He explained that these efforts aim to help young people better understand the realities of the labour market and the requirements of establishing and managing businesses, enabling them to move from seeking employment to becoming contributors to job creation and economic activity.

Kanoo stressed that Bahraini youth should be active partners in developing businesses and launching new ventures, noting that economies that provide young people with opportunities to take initiative, experiment, and innovate are better positioned to adapt and grow.

He concluded by calling for continued efforts to strengthen the environment supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship, address the challenges facing promising ventures, and encourage the emergence of a new generation of Bahraini entrepreneurs contributing to the national economy.