Al Alawi Calls for a recovery initiative to connect Bahraini companies with venture and global capital

Mr. Nayef Tawfiq Al Alawi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EazyPay, has urged the creation of a dedicated recovery initiative or fund to help Bahraini companies access venture and international capital. Al Alawi told BizBahrain that while “the government’s support for the private sector has played a significant role in helping businesses navigate current conditions,” sustained momentum will require fresh private-sector thinking, stronger liquidity and new financing pathways that connect local firms with global investors.

“The government’s support for the private sector has played a significant role in helping businesses navigate current conditions. However, maintaining momentum will also require fresh thinking from the private sector itself, particularly in strengthening liquidity and securing funding that can support growth over the short and medium term. In this context, we propose the establishment of a dedicated recovery initiative or fund that would bring together institutions and experts to improve access to capital, encourage the exchange of expertise, and help companies explore new financing pathways.” said Mr. Al Alawi.

Context and details

• Al Alawi pointed to regional precedents such as the Saudi SAQL fund, launched through a collaboration between the Public Investment Fund and State Street, as an example of how international asset management expertise can be married with local capital to attract foreign investment. He said: “Bahrain can draw valuable lessons from initiatives emerging elsewhere in the region, such as Saudi Arabia’s recent launch of the SAQL fund through a collaboration between the Public Investment Fund and State Street. These models demonstrate how international asset management expertise and advanced financial systems can be combined to attract foreign investment in a more structured and transparent way.”
• EazyPay, Al Alawi noted, already has ties to major global institutions. “EazyPay’s engagement with major global institutions, including BlackRock, has provided valuable insight into the frameworks and investment approaches used by leading asset managers,” he said, describing that experience as a foundation for building channels to international liquidity through modern investment structures and technology-enabled platforms.
• The company’s commercial partnerships were highlighted as practical levers to integrate Bahraini fintechs with global programs. “EazyPay’s partnerships with Visa and Mastercard offer a practical foundation for linking Bahraini tech ventures with global investment programs. This could help promising companies in payments and FinTech gain access to venture capital firms seeking scalable innovation and strong growth potential,” Al Alawi said.
• Al Alawi stressed that the proposed recovery initiative would not only supply capital but also “encourage the exchange of expertise,” suggesting a hybrid approach that combines funding with knowledge transfer and institutional linkages to sovereign wealth funds and other major investors.

Outlook

Al Alawi affirmed that Bahrain has the potential to create mechanisms that give local businesses “stronger visibility among international investors and create more effective links with global capital markets.” He framed EazyPay as a potential catalyst in that effort, offering both technical infrastructure and strategic partnerships to help translate local capability into globally investable opportunities.

If realized, the recovery initiative Al Alawi proposes would aim to strengthen short- and medium-term liquidity for Bahraini firms while opening channels to venture and institutional capital abroad, leveraging lessons from regional models and the company’s own international network to boost the kingdom’s access to cross-border financing.