Manama : Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board, participated in the ministerial segment of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2024) convening in New York on July 15-18.
The annual forum, held under the patronage of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), provides a platform to assess progress made and challenges faced by countries in advancing the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their voluntary national reviews and facilitates the exchange of best practices in achieving the goals.
During the high-level segment titled “From the SDG Summit to the Summit of the Future”, Minister Alkhulaif delivered the Kingdom’s statement; showcasing Bahrain’s efforts in accelerating SDG implementation since its second voluntary national review in 2023. She opened her remarks by presenting the most prominent key outcomes of the 33rd Arab Summit and the initiatives of the “Bahrain Declaration” announced during the summit by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chair of the current session of the Arab Summit. These initiatives, subsequently endorsed by member states, reaffirmed international cooperation and fostering global peace.
Bahrain’s dedication to a sustainable future was further emphasised by the ambitious “Blueprint Bahrain”; the nation’s roadmap to achieving carbon neutrality through building a low-carbon economy, adapting to climate change, and fostering a thriving green economy.
Looking beyond environmental initiatives, Minister Alkhulaif spoke about Bahrain’s focus on economic development, guided by the directives of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in formulating Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2050, prioritising social and cultural development while preserving the rich heritage of Bahraini cities. The Minister finally emphasised the importance of empowering youth and recognizing their vital role in shaping a sustainable future.
The opening session was also attended by Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Rowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York. It included speeches by Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and Paula Narvaez, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), whom all stressed the importance of concentrated efforts and strengthening international cooperation to achieve the desired sustainable development goals in light of the developmental, economical, and societal challenges and obstacles facing the world.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the minister engaged in a number of bilateral meetings, including with the President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis, underscoring the Ambassador for the success value of the Forum as a crucial platform for monitoring progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and expressinged her anticipation for the outcomes of the upcoming Summit of the Future.
Dennis Francis, commended Bahrain’s leadership in implementing the SDGs, specifically noting the establishment of a dedicated Ministry for Sustainable Development.
The minister also met with Dr. Rola Dashti, the Executive Secretary for the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The two sides discussed the Kingdom’s efforts in developing Bahrain’s SDG database and potential opportunities to collaborate to leverage international expertise and best practices to accelerate sustainable development in Bahrain.
