ZHANG Zhen Hao (UNIDO ITPO Bahrain, 2025-2026)
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Name: Zhang Zhenhao
Degree: Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
University: The University of Hong Kong
Position: On Job Training Fellow
UN Host Agency: United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment Technology Promotion Office (Bahrain)
Duration: October 2025 - March 2026 (6 months)
Sponsorship: Peace and Development Foundation (PDF)
Supervisor: Ameer Hassan Abubakr (National Investment Promotion Expert)
Job Description:
1. Programme and Project Development
• Support drafting and revising project documents including business plans and presentation slides, supplementing Chinese case studies and policy insights for thematic programmes like Orange Economy;
• Support collation and analysis of research information on China's Green, Blue and Orange Tri-Economy, compiling policy frameworks and case studies to provide material support for the office's regional economic research.
2. Project Implementation and Enterprise Services
• Support the design and full implementation of the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP) programme, a package of courses aimed at developing the capacities of potential entrepreneurs in order to boost their capabilities and assist them in developing their own private businesses, including customized training for Chinese entrepreneurs and routine batch training, responsible for process coordination and material preparation;
• Support optimization and assessment of business plans for local Bahraini enterprises, conduct on-site visits to sort out business development status, and provide targeted revision suggestions to assist enterprises in applying for government growth funds;
• Support data collection and statistics of local entrepreneurs, verify questionnaire data accuracy and classify files to facilitate the office's follow-up statistical analysis work.
3. Cross-border Cooperation, Institutional Linkage and Event Coordination
• Support cross-border business connection between Chinese and Bahraini enterprises, sort out enterprise development needs, match industrial resources and explore cooperation opportunities in emerging technologies and cultural heritage protection;
• Support the establishment of cooperative links with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Bahrain, coordinate the official visit of the embassy delegation and promote the landing of customized cooperation projects;
• Support organization and implementation of various international conferences and events, responsible for on-site coordination, guest reception and material support, and complete the office's annual report material collection and resource integration;
• Support the office's partner expansion and resource mobilization under UNIDO Global Call 2025, and complete other ad hoc administrative and operational support work as required.
My internship at UNIDO ITPO Bahrain was one of the most meaningful chapters of my recent academic and professional journey. Supported by the Peace and Development Foundation, I joined UNIDO ITPO Bahrain office as the first Chinese intern from a Hong Kong university, stepping into an environment where entrepreneurship support, investment promotion, and international cooperation were closely intertwined. From the beginning, the experience offered me not only practical exposure to the work of a United Nations office, but also a valuable opportunity to test my own adaptability, broaden my professional horizons, and deepen my understanding of Bahrain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
At the time, I did not yet know that this internship would eventually become memorable for reasons far beyond office work alone. What began as a period of learning and contribution later unfolded under highly unusual circumstances, making the experience not only professionally formative, but also personally unforgettable. On 28 February 2026, the escalation of war between Israel, the United States, and Iran quickly altered the rhythm of daily life in Bahrain. I was living in Juffair, an area located near a major U.S. naval command centre and therefore widely regarded as particularly sensitive in the event of military retaliation. On the first day of the crisis, like many others around me, I did not fully grasp how serious the situation would become. I packed only the bare essentials, left my residence in haste, and drove away from the area to stay temporarily at a friend of my landlord, hoping that the bombardment would soon subside and that life would return to normal. Yet the uncertainty did not pass. In the days that followed, air-raid sirens and the distant sounds of military escalation became part of daily life. Streets grew unusually empty, and one building near my area, darkened after a drone strike, stood as a stark reminder that the danger was no longer distant. Although the government called on shops and supermarkets to remain open and maintain stable supplies, signs of anxiety were still visible in everyday routines: shelves that usually held bread and other daily necessities were quickly emptied. The airspace was closed, the flights I had booked were cancelled twice, and I was ultimately forced to seek an alternative route home through a neighbouring country. After more than ten days of uncertainty, I left Bahrain safely on 11 March. Looking back, this was undoubtedly the most difficult and unsettling part of my internship. Yet it was also one of the most formative. It reminded me how fragile ordinary life can be, how deeply one can value safety and solidarity, and how resilience is often shaped not in ideal circumstances, but in moments of disruption.
Before that difficult and unexpected ending, however, my time at UNIDO ITPO Bahrain had already become a deeply formative experience. During the first one to two months, the learning curve was steep. With the patient guidance of my supervisor, Ameer, and through my participation in the 147th EDIP programme, I gradually developed a clearer understanding of entrepreneurship in Bahrain, including business plan writing, market research, financing logic, market gap identification, and the wider SME ecosystem. This early phase of learning laid the foundation for a broader shift: I moved from observing the office’s work to participating in it more actively. As I became more familiar with the work of the office, I gradually took on a broader range of responsibilities. My work mainly focused on the following areas:
EDIP training support and follow-up
Supported the delivery of both routine and customized EDIP programmes, including the 149th customized training for Chinese entrepreneurs. My work covered participant coordination, registration, equipment testing, on-site interpretation, and post-training follow-up through a WhatsApp support group, helping participants better understand Bahrain's business environment and entrepreneurship policies.
Business plan revision and enterprise support
Contributed to the review and optimization of business plans for local Bahraini enterprises, including Fit Gym, Foodify, Nawal, and a UPVC roofing sheet factory. This involved refining operational details, strengthening market analysis, identifying SDG linkages, and supporting applications for Tamkeen growth funding. I also joined site visits to better understand each enterprise's business model, development needs, and practical challenges.
Cross-border cooperation and partnership facilitation
Supported business matching and communication between Chinese and Bahraini stakeholders by identifying enterprise needs, mapping relevant resources, and exploring collaboration opportunities. This included assisting communication with the Hong Kong fintech company AXG on its Bahrain expansion interests, as well as helping explore possible cooperation between a Chinese AI and VR company and local Bahraini stakeholders in cultural heritage protection and emerging technologies.
Institutional linkage and office-wide support
Assisted in strengthening ties between the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Bahrain and UNIDO ITPO Bahrain by supporting coordination for the embassy delegation's official visit and helping lay the groundwork for customized cooperation initiatives. I also supported partner outreach and resource mobilization related to UNIDO Global Call 2025, alongside other ad hoc operational and administrative tasks.
Events, research, and communications support
Contributed to the preparation and implementation of international events such as World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF) and office activities by assisting with guest reception, materials preparation, and on-site coordination. I also supported research and knowledge-building by collecting Chinese policy frameworks and case studies related to the Green, Blue, and Orange economies, revising presentation materials on the Orange Economy, and compiling media and official resources for the office's annual report.
What made this internship particularly meaningful was not only the work itself, but also the people I met along the way. I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Hassim, the head of the UNIDO ITPO Bahrain office, for giving me the opportunity to work at UNIDO ITPO Bahrain and for trusting me with meaningful responsibilities. I am especially thankful to my supervisor, Ameer, whose patience, professionalism, and generosity shaped much of my learning journey. I am also grateful to my colleague Isa, whose energy, insight, and readiness to help brought warmth and support to everyday work. It was through the encouragement of colleagues like them that I gained the confidence to keep learning, asking questions, and contributing more actively.
This internship also gave me a deeper appreciation of Bahrain itself. As both an observer and a participant, I was able to experience not only the professional setting of an international office, but also the warmth, values, and rhythms of life in Bahraini society. Through daily interactions with colleagues, entrepreneurs, and partners from different backgrounds, I gradually came to understand how deeply respect, faith, hospitality, and sincerity shape both social relationships and professional conduct in the country. In the familiar greeting of “Al Salam Alaykum,” I sensed not merely a form of courtesy, but a broader cultural disposition rooted in dignity, openness, and goodwill. For me, the significance of this experience therefore extended well beyond cultural exposure. In a modest yet meaningful way, it also showed me how interpersonal connection can serve as a bridge for wider cooperation in entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic exchange between China and Bahrain.
During the most difficult final stage of the internship, I also experienced, in the most direct and personal way, the depth of care and responsibility shown by the Peace and Development Foundation. Even from thousands of kilometres away in Hong Kong, the PDF team remained constantly concerned for my safety and well-being. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Oscar Chow, Chairman of PDF, who, upon learning of my situation, immediately arranged for colleagues to support me and made my safe return the highest priority. I am also deeply grateful to Josie, who took the lead in checking on me within the internship group and encouraged others to support me emotionally, which gave me a profound sense of warmth and reassurance. My sincere thanks also go to Olivia and Mabel, who tirelessly maintained contact with the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain in order to explore safe channels for my return, and to Alfred and Mr. Tan, who helped secure and advance the cost of my flight home while ensuring that every logistical detail was carefully arranged. Their support went far beyond administrative responsibility. In a moment of genuine vulnerability and uncertainty, they gave me not only practical assistance, but also the feeling that I was being protected by people who cared with extraordinary kindness.
In the end, this internship was much more than a period of work experience. It was a journey of learning, adaptation, contribution, and human connection. It helped me move from observing to participating, from uncertainty to confidence, and from learning concepts in theory to seeing how they take shape in real-world practice. I will always be grateful to UNIDO ITPO Bahrain and the Peace and Development Foundation for this invaluable opportunity, which has left a lasting mark on both my professional growth and my personal journey.
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