Manama : Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, inaugurated the 5th World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF).
WEIF is organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, in collaboration with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Secretariat General of the Arab League, the Union of Arab Chambers, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD).
Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, ministers and other officials attended the inauguration.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa participated in a panel discussion titled (The World in 2025), alongside the Arab League Secretary General and Fatou Haidara, Deputy to Director General and Managing Director Global Partnerships and External Relations at the UNIDO.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa, emphasised that Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, continues to implement strategic plans that contribute to achieving the goals of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and Bahrain’s economic recovery plan.
The minister added that the initial discussion of the formation of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2050 is initiated, emphasising the importance of utilising all available resources and accommodating technological developments of AI. He highlighted the role of the private sector as a main engine and an active partner in economic development.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa also inaugurated and toured the WEIF exhibition, where he was briefed on the artwork of the business owners.
The minister, Dr. Aboul Gheit and Fatou Haidara, UNIDO Deputy Director-General honoured prominent figures for their role in promoting the culture of entrepreneurship, whom are:
1. Dr. Shaikha Mai bint Suleiman Al Otaibi, the Chairperson of Bahrain Bayan School and Deputy Chairperson of Bahrain Institute for Political Development, for her efforts to enable future generations, promote the role of women in the community.
2. Safeya Ali Mohammed Kanoo, founder of the Safeya Ali Kanoo Hub, for her charitable
contributions and her inspiring artistic work.
3. Ammar Basheir, from Ammar Basheir Creative Studio, a visionary in the field of interior design.
The WEIF2024 brings together participants, including experts and specialists, from 84 countries. It discusses topics on providing a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation, building sustainable partnerships between Arab and African entrepreneurs, shifts in investment paths to achieve sustainable development goals and digital transformation, agricultural technology to achieve food security, and the role of universities and educational institutions in supporting economic growth.
