As we start the new year, we look back at many of the things we managed to accomplish in 2019 across the Group. Check some of last year’s milestones here:

Business and operational:

• BMMI awarded a Defense Logistics Agency – Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) Supply contract in the CENTCOM Region.
• BMMI wins Electrical Components Supply contract from the United Nations for its various locations throughout Africa.
• GSS and BMMI introduce new sourcing and supply activities with teams working across country borders to source and prepare food products from different region in Sudan to export to KSA.
• Alosra Supermarket renewed its exclusive commercial agreement with the Musgrave Group, Ireland's largest grocery and food distributor, to include more premium offerings at competitive prices. Through this partnership, the new agreement also allows all branches in Bahrain to support and stock Irish food products from Musgrave’s Food Academy vendors. The Food Academy is a Musgrave initiative, in which they support local entrepreneurs materialise their concepts into well established businesses. This is in line with our Think Local initiative to support local entrepreneurs and communities.
• BSS marks one year of operations, as well as officially launches its first office outside Bahrain, in Dammam, KSA, near King Abdul Aziz Sea Port. As a registered Aramco vendor, it is operational in RAS Tanura, as well as all Eastern Province Ports, including Dammam and Al Jubail.
• BMMI has been approved for Trainee Development Platinum approval by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the leading international accountancy body.
• BMMI’s VP of Africa Operations was featured as a panellist at the 2nd Annual Africa Industry Conference in Nairobi, which was hosted by International Stability Operations Association (ISOA). The ISOA is a worldwide partnership of organisations that provide critical services in fragile environments across the globe.
• BMMI Djibouti participated in the country’s International Trade Fair for the second time, which was inaugurated by Djiboutian President, Ismael Omar Guelleh, and involved hundreds of companies, economic operators and investors.
• BMMI’s Beverages division wins a Brand Activation of the Year award.
• His Excellency, Bahrain’s Labour and Social Development Minister, Jameel Humaidan, recognised the Group’s support of the recruitment of Bahraini talent in conjunction with the National Employment Programme and prioritising training, coaching and promoting high performing members of the local workforce. To show his appreciation, His Excellency made a visit to BMMI’s corporate offices to meet the team and thank them for their efforts.
• BMMI took part in the 100 Years of Formal Education Forum, an event by Bahrain's Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNICEF. BMMI was a main sponsor and was able to showcase its areas of business and promote the Group to young job seekers.
• BMMI launches a Winning Hearts Roadshow in its various locations to announce the latest update to its corporate culture programme and engage employees.
• BMMI launches widescale digital project dubbed New Moon, which aims to augment and streamline digital capabilities to better serve customers and clients
• BMMI’s FMCG division expanded its portfolio by introducing its first health focused products, to include top brands from the USA and Europe.

CSR

• BMMI supported the construction of the RIA Adult Centre (RAC) and the purchasing of a mini-bus to help in the transportation of those registered with the centre. The RAC will help differently abled individuals develop crucial life skills in parallel with work experience opportunities.
• The second batch of trainees from the Employment Facilitation Training Service (EFTS) programme for differently abled individuals have completed their rotation with BMMI and graduate from the programme.
• BMMI was the main sponsor of the 5th Untangle Autism International Conference in Bahrain. The event brought together parents, professionals and caregivers to showcase how implementing a holistic approach and treating the whole individual can ease the medical conditions and behavioural symptoms common in children, adolescents, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (AUD) and other developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders.
• BMMI publishes its latest Communication on Progress (COP) to reaffirm support for the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
• BMMI supports the second Women Power Summit, which focused on inspiring action around women empowerment, leadership and innovation.
• BMMI sponsors the Third Combined Gulf Cancer Conference, where delegates learned from the knowledge and experience of internationally renowned experts from across the globe in the management of breast, colorectal, and reproductive system cancers, in addition to oncoplastic surgery.
• BMMI eliminated the use of all plastic bottles in our corporate offices across Bahrain, helping save over 70,000 bottles annually. The initiative is in line with our CSR efforts to minimise and reduce single plastic use across all our operations, as well as our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12, responsible consumption and production.
• BMMI becomes a 2019 member of the Arabia CSR network, which plays an integral role in fostering and supporting regional partnerships for a greater adoption of CSR policies and practices.
• BMMI partnered with Confident Children out of Conflict, a non-profit organisation based in South Sudan, to support the education of 20 students.
• BMMI completes the building of lavatories in the Djibouti Free Zone. The project helps provide dockers with a hygienic solution to washroom needs and lack of sanitation, as well as provides access to clean water in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The two 40-foot demountable containers are equipped with sanitary installations for the use of the dockers.