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The agreement signed today will enable GE to further develop its presence and continue its strategy of localisation and knowledge transfer in the region.

Brussels, 16 September 2009 - Tamkeen and GE Security, Inc., a business of GE Enterprise Solutions (NYSE: GE) announced today the signing of a contract to support the set-up of GE Security’s Middle Eastern hub in Bahrain and to establish a Training University, which will serve its regional operations and employ local Bahrainis.  The project is part of Tamkeen’s efforts to support the Economic Development Board (EDB) strategy aimed at attracting foreign direct investors to Bahrain and creating value added jobs in the country.  The agreement signed today will enable GE to further develop its presence and continue its strategy of localisation and knowledge transfer in the region.

Under the agreement, Tamkeen will provide financial support to GE Security to train and employ Bahrainis in business management and high-value technical jobs in fire detection, access control, video surveillance and integrated security systems and other areas.  The contract was signed by Tamkeen’s Chief Executive, Mr. Abdulellah Al Qassimi, and GE Security’s President for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mr. Bart Otten.  Also present at the signing were Mr. Sharif Ahmadi, Vice chairman of Tamkeen’s Board of Directors, Mr. Akram Hamad, GE President and National Executive for the Gulf region, Mr. Kamal Ahmed, Chief Operations Officer, EDB and other officials.

The establishment of GE Security’s Middle Eastern hub and Training University is a project backed by the EDB for its potential to fit into a larger vision to make Bahrain a regional industrial and services training hub.  GE Security is expanding its business and activities in the Middle East and this new hub will serve as the main office for the Middle East and North Africa region for customer service, sales and technical support.  The hub is expected to employ 25 Bahrainis by 2012.

“We see this partnership with GE Security as a key element in the overall vision supported by our leadership and by the EDB to tap the potential of Bahrain to become a business hub while also supporting the generation of value added employment opportunities for Bahrainis in new and emerging industries,” said Tamkeen Chief Executive Mr. Al Qassimi.  “As the region’s industrial and business requirements continue to grow and evolve, a key requirement for technical home, business and industrial security applications will increasingly be required and the availability of qualified, trained Bahraini professionals who are able to handle such applications and products will represent a key growth opportunity for Bahrain.  Bahrainis have a good opportunity to develop careers in the vast residential, business and industrial security segments.  GE Security’s Training University will facilitate such an opportunity.”

To this, Bart Otten, the President of GE Security Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, “We are delighted that Tamkeen is supporting us in this strategic venture and decided to invest in Bahrain for its business friendly climate, strategic location and large talent pool.  This new hub will benefit the local economy through increased employment and travel.  The founding of a Training University, in Manama, is an expansion of a proven GE Security concept in Brussels and Johannesburg, that will contribute to making Bahrain one of the major technical training centres of the region."

Jurgen Timperman, GE Security’s Regional General Manager Middle East and Africa, stated, "The signing of this agreement is a major milestone in our plans for continued expansion of GE Security's business and activities in the Middle East.  The new regional headquarters in Bahrain will serve as a hub for customer service, sales and technical support and will also host a new Training University which will provide world-class professional skills and product training for both employees and business partners in the region."

GE Security’s new Middle Eastern hub and Training University are part of GE’s strategy to expand its local operations and knowledge transfer initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain as it has been around the region.  These localisation initiatives complement the recently inaugurated GE office, a GE Energy Customer Application Center and a Pro Express showroom opened by GE Security and Security 1, a one-stop shop in a business-to-business service outlet, offering a selected range of electronic security products.  Through the new office and facilities, GE will be able to more effectively expand its Power, Water, Oil & Gas, Aviation, Security and Consumer & Industrial businesses while providing enhanced levels of service and support for customers in the Kingdom of Bahrain and around the region.  At present, GE has over 100 people working in Bahrain.

With regional activity since the 1930’s, GE’s presence today comprises an array of established projects via strategic partnerships, investments, and solutions, with a focus on infrastructure development and major challenges such as cleaner energy and transportation, water scarcity and improved healthcare systems.  GE currently employs over 1,700 personnel across the Middle East with over 10 on the ground facilities and several more currently under development.

About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs.  From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.  For more information, visit the company's Web site at:
http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

About GE’s Security Business
GE Security, Inc., a business of GE Enterprise Solutions (NYSE: GE), is a leading supplier of security and life safety technologies, with operations in 26 countries.  GE Security offers one of the industry's broadest product portfolios, including access control, fire detection, intrusion, key management and video surveillance.  GE Security's products are used to protect people and property across a wide range of industries, including aviation, banking and finance, education, government and military, healthcare, law enforcement, residential, retail, stadiums and event venues, and transportation.

For more information about GE Security, please visit www.gesecurity.com.

GE Security, making the world safer.

About Tamkeen

Tamkeen (Labour Fund) is a semi-autonomous yet independent authority which formulates strategic and operational plans to enhance the overall prosperity of Bahrain by investing in Bahraini employability, job creation and social support. Tamkeen is funded by the fees collected by the LMRA.

Tamkeen's main objectives are to support Bahrainis to become the employees of choice, and to support high quality private sector job creation.

To achieve these objectives, Tamkeen will invest in the cost and quality competitiveness of Bahrainis (e.g., reduction of cost of employing Bahrainis relative to expatriates, investment in skill and work ethic development programs of Bahrainis); in tackling employment barriers on both employer and labour market entrants' sides through a combination of financial incentives and capability building, and in supporting the private sector's adjustment to new cost structures by providing access to capital to alleviate short-term cash constraints or improve productivity, and in know-how initiatives that support improvements in productivity and decreased reliance on expatriate labour through spreading management and technical knowledge.

Up to the end of March 2009, Tamkeen is investing more than BD 70 million in more than 30 projects targeting more than 19,000 Bahrainis and 5,700 SMEs.  Programmes are continuously being devised as per Tamkeen's strategy and the numbers of beneficiaries are continuously increasing.

For more information on our programmes and initiatives, please contact:
Marketing Communications
Tamkeen (Labour Fund)
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel: +973 17383335/+973 17383327
Fax: +973 17382352
Email: info@tamkeen.bh
Website: www.tamkeen.bh