Manama: Europe and the Arabs
The Arab Productive Families Exhibition, which was recently held within the activities of the Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Forum in Bahrain, formed a unique platform for craft and home project owners to display their creativity and exchange experiences. From growing oyster mushrooms at home to making traditional dolls, and from the art of gold engraving to shipbuilding, the exhibition presented a rich mosaic of Arab talent. According to what was stated in the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this Saturday morning
The Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Forum was organized by the Investment and Technology Promotion Office of UNIDO in Bahrain. United Nations News was present at the exhibition and spoke to some of the male and female participants in the Arab exhibition who lit up the exhibition with their crafts and creativity.
Art to protect the environment
From the State of Kuwait, Suhaila Al-Attiya participated. She is an artist who combines art with her interest in the field of environmental protection. She uses fabric scraps to produce works of art and models of paintings and clothes that contain precise details using fabric drawing and hand embroidery.
I wrote a book in this field documenting the work I completed and introducing this art and its details. Suhaila says that her interest in the field of environmental protection is what inspired her to enter this field and adds:
“Protecting the environment is constantly on my mind, so I preferred to use fabrics and textiles as a model for recycling. There are also plastics and wood, all of which are opportunities that can be exploited to empower people and search for a source of livelihood, as well as protect and develop society in training students and training women. Some things are simple in cost and with a simple effort can be saved.” A source of abundant livelihood.”

She says that the craft of sewing is inherited in her family, and she added artistic touches to her passion for art and drawing, "so I combined sewing with fine art and it became a special identity for me. Thank God I excelled in it in the Arab artistic community."
She explained that her participation in the Arab exhibition was a good opportunity for her to exchange information and knowledge, noting that she participated in more than 100 exhibitions in Kuwait. She organized four personal exhibitions and participated in joint exhibitions in 15 Arab countries.
Cultivation of oyster mushrooms
Ali Muhammad from Bahrain is the owner of a project specializing in growing oyster mushrooms at home for consumption as food. He says that people in Bahrain approved of his idea, which he said he had been working on for two years.
The idea of ​​the project revolves around growing oyster mushrooms at home in a simple way using a box containing all the materials and instructions that an individual needs to be able to do so. Mr. Ali explains that mushroom growth requires a temperature ranging between 20-25 degrees Celsius and also needs humidity.
Ali says that oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest types of fungi that can be cultivated, but they are not abundant in the Arab region due to their high price and due to food culture.
Ali Muhammad enumerates the health benefits of oyster mushrooms, noting that they contain substances that contribute to “protecting people from the risk of cancer,” according to him, in addition to containing multiple vitamins “and have a high percentage of protein, almost like meat.” Ali Muhammad called for the necessity of Spreading the culture of eating mushrooms in the Arab countries.
Dolls dressed in Moroccan clothes
Fatima Al-Zahraa is a young woman from Morocco, the owner of the “Yato” project, which specializes in making dolls in traditional Moroccan clothing. The word “Yato,” Fatima explains, is a Moroccan Berber name that “is easy for everyone to pronounce.”
She says that she started this home project in partnership with her sister and mother in the year 2022. The family was producing products inside the home during the quarantine period during the Corona pandemic, and after the quarantine was lifted, the family began selling their products in the markets. “Then we thought about establishing a cooperative with my mother and sister. We sell our products.” In various Moroccan cities.
Fatima Al-Zahraa points out that she received support from the Moroccan government, which enabled her to purchase a 3D printer. She adds: "Working with family members is much better as there is cooperation and understanding between everyone."
Omani traditional bags
We also met with Mrs. Dina Al-Zein from the Sultanate of Oman, who participated in the exhibition as a representative of the Ministry of Social Development in her country.
Dina Al-Zein specializes in making traditional Omani bags and accessories using the Omani gold engraving method. She also makes models of Omani clothing. She says that she markets her products to hotels inside the Sultanate of Oman, but she aspires to market her products outside the Sultanate as well.
Shipbuilding is a well-established Kuwaiti tradition
Kamel Ghadban Al-Qallab from Kuwait specializes in manufacturing large ships as well as small ships used for decorative purposes.
Due to the inability to manufacture large ships, Al-Qallab says that he turned to making small ships using iron, aluminum, and fiberglass.
He explains that shipbuilding is an important and common tradition in Kuwait, “even the Kuwaiti logo contains a ship.” Al-Qalab says that this craft is difficult, but despite that, “I have had success, thank God.”
Silversmithing in Oman
Nadia bint Saeed Al Rawahiya is from the Sultanate of Oman. She works with the Productive Families Program sponsored by the Ministry of Social Development in the Sultanate of Oman. Her craft is making daggers, silver jewelry, antiques, and craft gifts. She says that she was nominated by the League of Arab States to participate in the Arab exhibition.
Mrs. Nadia says

Silversmithing is a common Omani craft, and she explains this by saying: “We first start by melting the silver, then we shape it, and then we start crafting it. Our products include Omani and traditional jewelry, antiques, and gifts. We also work on gold-plated silver as women’s jewelry.”
She expressed her hope to benefit from trade exchange with other families participating in the Arab exhibition.
“Sleeping boxes” are an old Bahraini tradition
Craftsman Ali Matar from the Kingdom of Bahrain specializes in making “sleeping boxes” and the art of woodworking.
He says that the overnight box is known in the Kingdom of Bahrain and was used in the past to place clothes and the bride’s clothing and gold supplies, so they called it the overnight box.
Ali also makes ancient tools such as incense burners, lanterns, weapons used by popular bands in the “Bahraini Ardha Art”, old doors, and many ancient tools that were used in Bahrain.
Small enterprises have an important role in combating poverty
It is noteworthy that the United Nations commemorates Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day on June 27 of each year. The theme of this year's celebration is to benefit from the strength and flexibility of these institutions to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty in times of multiple crises.
According to the day's observance website, MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60%-70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. It is also the backbone of societies everywhere, contributing to local and national economies and to preserving livelihoods, especially among the working poor, women, youth and vulnerable groups.
MSMEs have the potential to transform economies, boost job creation, and promote equitable economic growth if given adequate support. The celebration of this day aims to highlight its pivotal role and explore opportunities to achieve further progress.