**Supporting Creativity and Education**

Batelco, in line with its Commitment to support education and youth events, was proud to be on-board for the 2015 Imagine Cup Pan Arab Competition hosted by Microsoft. The Imagine Cup encourages young people to apply their imagination, passion and creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world. The Imagine Cup honours the most innovative, ground-breaking and appealing software built with Microsoft tools and technology. The event took place at the Sofitel Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa from 31^st May to 2^nd June.

Microsoft hosted the Pan Arab Finals to choose three teams to represent the Arab world at the world finals that will take place in July in Seattle. The Bahrain event was held under the auspices of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crowne Prince, First Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Bahrain EDB (Economic Development Board).

The Imagine Cup is the premier student worldwide competition that has been running for over a decade and has hosted over four million competitors from around the globe. One hundred and forty students representing 13 countries in the Arab world participated in the Bahrain event and their competition entries were reviewed by a panel of 18 acclaimed judges from the region.

Batelco Group General Manager Corporate Affairs Ahmed Al Janahi said that Batelco was always supportive of initiatives that were focussed on the development of young people as such programmes are in line with Batelco’s CSR commitments.

“The Microsoft backed event encouraged the use of technology to create innovative solutions for the world and therefore fits in well with Batelco as a leader in the provision of innovative communication solutions,” he added.