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Development and Training chief executive plan was in place to ensure full readiness with her sister. “We sell customized gift
Ahmed Alhujairy. “We need to think about to deal with the requirements of the digital boxes for different occasions and plan
the future and the digital trends or else economy, through training and investment. to introduce more products,” said Ms.
many businesses will cease to exist. “For Attending yesterday’s event was BabyGulf Abdulla. Independent US economic think-
example, we hear about the revival of the founder Basel Qabouq, a Jordanian, who tank, Milken Institute, said last month that
old suq facing competition from shopping along with his Bahraini partner Loay Bahrain is poised to become a major hub
malls, now these malls are facing Abdul’al launched the startup in 2018. “We for technology, innovation and finance. It
competition from e-commerce.” He said deliver Nappy diapers to online customers said since its launch in 2018 the Bahrain
businesses need to realise, invest and train across Bahrain,” said Mr Qabouq. “There FinTech Bay has attracted 30 companies,
to be a part of the digital transformation. are a lot of new dads who don’t want to out of a target of 50 to 60. Furthermore,
“Ever since the Bahrain eCommerce go the supermarket to buy diapers, and the recent emphasis on startups and
Academy was launched in 2018 it has instead book in bulk through our website. technology has also paid off especially
helped train over 175 entrepreneurs in “Our business is growing fast and we plan with the creation of $100 million Al Waha
e-commerce and set up online businesses.” to expand to the UAE and Saudi markets Funds of Funds to provide funding access
In his opening remarks ministry assistant soon.” Another start-up owner who was to Bahrain’s startup industry.
under-secretary of control and resources honored yesterday was Hind Abdulla who
Abdulaziz Alashraaf said a comprehensive started Occasionallygifts.com, along

Digital Transformation Changes Lives in Moheshkhali Island of Bangladesh

The Moheshkhali Island, a popular
destination for tourists, has now been
transformed into a digitalized locality
with modern facilities. In some cases, it is
more advanced than some other regions
of the country. Moheshkhali’s digital
transformation has helped third grader
Tasnia learn different subjects directly
from Dhaka through video conferencing
under the distance learning program of
JAAGO Foundation. Tasnia is not the only
one. Several hundred other students are
being taught by experienced teachers from
Dhaka through e-learning. “A teacher from
Dhaka is teaching us English through video
conference. We’re enjoying the class and
learning new lessons regularly,” Tasnia
told UNB. Anwara Begum, a resident of
the island, recently took her 6-year-old
daughter to the Upazila Health Complex.
As her condition was critical, duty Doctor also being sold through online shopping with digital services, including e-service
Shib Shekhar Bhattacharya consulted platform Daraz. All these changes were center, digital school, e-commerce center
a specialist physician through video possible thanks to the implementation and high-speed internet for all. The
conference and prescribed the girl some of a public-private partnership (PPP) pilot project turned the island into an
medicine. It saved a family of unnecessary project. The ICT Ministry, Bangladesh emerging technological hub. Locals said
worries, time and money. Availability of Computer Council, Korea Telecom and the the project helps local teachers improve
technology also led to sprawling online International Organization for Migration their capabilities through e-learning and
business and employment generation. (IOM) jointly undertook the “Digital Island- e-teaching. Currently, 25 schools here are
Didarul Islam, Marufa Nasrin Lopa, Romana Moheshkhali” project. JAAGO Foundation being provided with high-speed internet.
Akter and six other youths launched an joined the project as an implementing Besides, a good number of students of ten
online trading platform ‘E-business Centre’ partner in April 2017. Prime Minister primary schools are being taught directly
for selling dried fishes produced on the declared Moheshkhali as a “Digital Island” from Dhaka through video conferencing.
island. They are supplying dried fish to all on April 27, 2017. Since then, residents Patrick Charignon, head of transition
corners of the country in addition to local in the Moheshkhai Municipality and and recovery division (TRD) of IOM, said
buyers and tourists. These products are two adjacent unions are being provided Moheshkhali Island was selected for the

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