Manama : During the Diplomatic Forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Bahrain Diplomatic Day, the third day began with a session entitled “Bahrain and Sustainability: An Economic and Environmental Vision to Achieve a Sustainable Future”.
The session was moderated by Ambassador Nasser Al Balooshi, Ambassador of Bahrain to Italy.
The ambassador highlighted that Bahrain is moving confidently towards achieving sustainable development, inspired by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the support of the government headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which aims to achieve the welfare of citizens while preserving resources and ensuring their sustainability for future generations.
Khalid Al Marzouqi, Projects Advisor at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, highlighted strategies that promote sustainability in the industrial and commercial sector, pointing to initiatives such as Sijilat and the Trader application that make it easier for entrepreneurs to run their businesses with ease.
He also highlighted the Industrial Sector Strategy (2022 – 2026), which supports the transformation towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution and smart factories, in addition to the importance of benefiting from free trade agreements to promote Bahraini commercial activity at the international level.
Laila Ali Sabil, Director of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department at the Ministry of Oil and Environment, also provided a comprehensive definition of sustainability as balancing the consumption of existing resources and ensuring their sustainability for future generations. She also reviewed the efforts of Bahrain to achieve carbon neutrality in carbon emissions, highlighting the importance of searching for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy despite technological and logistical challenges.
Futoon Al Emadi, Director of the Communication and International Relations Department at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, explained the pivotal role of diplomacy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, pointing to cooperation with other countries and international organizations to promote innovation and attract global best practices, noting the importance of obtaining accurate data to assess progress in achieving the goals.
Dana Al Shammasi, Director of the Financial Sustainability Department, reviewed efforts to reduce dependence on oil revenues through the fiscal balance program and the implementation of strategies that support the development of non-oil sectors such as logistics and information technology, underscoring the importance of partnerships with the private sector to enhance financial resources and achieve economic sustainability.
At the end of the session, participants discussed the most prominent challenges facing Bahrain in achieving sustainability goals, noting the essential role of diplomacy in facilitating international cooperation, attracting investments, and enhancing the role of Bahrain as a leading destination for development experiences and innovative projects.
