BBI Publicly Launches in Bank of Palestine-Bethlehem Branch
Launch event attracts more than 130 local and international guests from public and private sectors
May 4, 2016
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| BEEADEE Country Director Salah Amleh (far right) welcomes guests to BBI |
On Wednesday, April 13, 2016, Bethlehem Business Incubator (BBI) welcomed more than 130 guests from various public organizations and private companies at its public launch in Bank of Palestine-Bethlehem Branch.
Some notable attendees at the media-frenzied, popular occasion included U.S. Consul General of Jerusalem Donald Blome, Bank of Palestine Chairman Hashim Shawa, Bethlehem Mayor Ms. Vera Baboun, Bethlehem University Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Irene Hazou Makhoul, Bethlehem University Dean of Shucri Ibrahim Dabdoub Faculty of Business Administration Dr. Fadi Kattan, and Bethlehem Development Foundation CEO Mr. Mazen Karam. IIB Executive Director LaVonn Schlegel and Director of Programs Christine Davis traveled from Bloomington to Bethlehem for this exciting event.
BBI is housed in the Bank of Palestine-Bethlehem Branch location. BBI serves at the forefront of the program to achieve the goal of fostering sustainable growth by enhancing the entrepreneurial environment in the West Bank.
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| Guests crowded the seats at the BBI launch |
The long-awaited event is just the beginning to spearhead BBI’s goals and mission to incubate, mentor, and support local start-ups, entrepreneurs, students, and faculty–particularly women and youth who are interested in the non-Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) sector.
At the launch, the region’s non-profit and business leaders expressed their excitement over the immense economic and creative innovation potentials BBI is ready to explore. From training services, workshops, mentorships, networking opportunities, to internships, BBI will help its clients receive follow-on investments to increase their chances of sustaining their business even after leaving the Incubator.
In addition to providing business development and incubation services, BBI is dedicated to promoting local engagement and outreach through public entrepreneurship educational services and forging local cooperation and partnerships with NGOs, need-based entrepreneurs, various community organizations and schools across the region.
Sponsored by the United States Department of State project Building Entrepreneurship Excellence And Developing Economic Enterprises (BEEADEE), BBI is one of this three-year, $1.5 million program’s integral component. Both the BEEADEE project and BBI is carried out by Indiana University’s Kelley Institute for International Business (IIB) in collaboration with Bethlehem University (BU) along with generous support from Bank of Palestine.
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