Day: October 30, 2021

— Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, praised the Italian efforts and achievements during its presidency of the G20 in 2021, picking up from what was adopted during the Kingdom’s presidency last year to support the group’s efforts in achieving international cooperation in the face of the global challenges.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Prince Faisal also underlined the importance of the Kingdom’s membership in the G20, due to its great economic power and influence, which makes it an influential party in drawing global economic policies.
Praising the success that the Kingdom achieved while chairing the G20 last year under the “Seizing the opportunities of the twenty-first century for all” theme, the Foreign Minister stressed that the KSA’s participation this year during the Italian presidency is a continuation of the roadmap for joint collective action undertaken by all member states.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed the international interest in multilateral cooperation to reach the sustainable development goals through global forums such as the G20, in addition to doubling joint international efforts for faster recovery from the challenges ahead, restoring global economic growth, promoting global health, and restore stability in the all aspects of life, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in international trade and investment, to help increase economic growth, development, innovation and job creation in various countries.
Prince Faisal also stressed the importance of addressing climate change in the world and the need to protect the environment, bringing to the attention the great interest the Kingdom attaches to this aspect, citing the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, in addition to the outcomes of the Middle East Green Initiative summit, which was held recently in Riyadh, which represents a launching pad for cooperation with the Kingdom’s international partners in raising the level of joint action in climate diplomacy.
He said the G20 this year, under the Italian presidency, discussed humanity, the planet, and prosperity, a matter that contributed to achieving global goals, advancing the wheel of prosperity in all countries, preserving people, the planet, and the environment to achieve the aspirations of all peoples, underlining the importance of taking the necessary steps and intensifying international efforts to provide safe and sufficient food for all countries, setting up faster mechanisms for adapting agriculture and food systems to climate change, and increasing investments that stimulate food security, sustainable food systems, and regional development.
Meanwhile, Prince Faisal reiterated the priority of peace and security in the African continent for the Kingdom, and the Kingdom’s support for regional and international efforts in close cooperation with the African Union to lay the foundations for stability, security, and conflict resolution, expressing the Kingdom’s aspiration to unite global efforts to advance the status of African countries and to increase investment in health, education, infrastructure, technology, public services, and development sectors to achieve prosperity, progress, and development in Africa.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan extended his appreciation to the Italian presidency for its keenness this year in rallying efforts to continue facing global challenges and working towards building a promising future for all countries, expressing his confidence that the success of the G20 Leaders Summit in the Italian capital, Rome, will yield many positive results that will serve the future of the world and its peoples, and contribute to solving the most important files, challenges, and international issues.

 

 

Source: Saudi Press Agency

 

 

Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi affirmed that the G20 Leaders Summit held in Italy focuses on completing the successes and the roadmap set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to restore economic growth and global recovery through its leadership last year and its work with the G20 to confront the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 and its broad implications for the global economy.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of the Kingdom’s participation in the G20 Leaders Summit that will be held in Italy, he said “In continuation of the achievements made during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 2020, the ministers of trade and investment based their ministerial statement during the Italian presidency of the G20 on Riyadh Initiative for the Future of the World Trade Organization approved by the leaders of the G20 last year, which is based on defining common ground of the basic objectives and principles of the multilateral trading system and discussing the reform of the World Trade Organization, and the role of the organization in restoring growth and promoting economic recovery and limiting the effects of the Corona pandemic on international trade and investment, stressing the importance of global cooperation to maintain an open and fair trading system for all.”
Dr. Al-Qasabi stressed that the current conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic require strong and effective economic recovery from governments, and that they make services, investment and digital trade essential elements in their responsive policies, as the pandemic has shown that digital trade is not only a necessity, but rather a critical requirement for full participation in trade and economy especially for developing and least developed countries.
He indicated that the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges and obstacles facing micro, small and medium enterprises, and collective efforts must focus on helping these enterprises to recover from the pandemic by addressing disruptions to production, supply chain, business networks, loan repayment and lack of capital to maintain or resume businesses.
It is noteworthy that the G20 countries, during the presidency of the Kingdom last year, took immediate measures to reduce the disruption in trade and global supply chains and restore confidence and trade continuity by developing long and short-term measures to support the response and reduce the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Source: Saudi Press Agency

 

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has announced the opening of nomination for the 15th local edition and 6th Arab one of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Award for Productive Families.

 

Winners of the award will be announced in March 2022 in a ceremony that will be held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, the ministry said.

 

The award is being organised annually at the local level and every two years at the Arab level after the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers issued a resolution in 2010 approving the launch of the award at the Arab level to encourage productive families.

 

A three-day exhibition will also be inaugurated on the sidelines of the award distribution ceremony to showcase distinguished products, encourage owners of home projects and develop talents and skills.

 

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development calls on the Bahraini and Arab productive families to apply for the award by registering in the electronic form on the ministry’s website from November 1 to February 20, 2022. Participating products shall be submitted in person at the Capital Mall for Bahraini Handmade Products, in Karbabad, during the official working hours. As for food products, only participation forms will be received and the date for receiving samples of the food products will be set later through direct communication with the participants in February 2022.

 

 

 

Source: Bahrain News Agency

 

 

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today returned to the kingdom following a visit to the UAE.

 

During the visit, HM King Hamad met the UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and held talks with them on the distinguished long-standing solid relations between the two countries and their brotherly peoples, in addition to the latest regional and global developments.

 

Upon arrival to Bahrain, HM the King was welcomed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

 

 

 

Source: Bahrain News Agency

 

Minister of Housing, Bassim bin Yacob Al-Hamar, has affirmed the Housing Ministry’s keenness to ensure that its current and future projects are capable of catering to the service and facilities needs of the beneficiaries so as to provide them with the requirements of decent and quality life, on the one hand, and carry on efforts to achieve the sustainability of housing services, on the other.

 

He pointed out that the government attaches great importance to the environmental aspects in housing projects by allocating green sites and paths in all modern towns, in addition to waterfronts, beaches and sites to practise various hobbies, noting that the government seeks to enhance sustainable development, citing the Salman Town’s use of green energy.

 

The minister extended sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the occasion of the World Cities Day 2021, observed worldwide on October 31 under the theme “Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience”.

 

In a statement to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) marking the occasion, Al-Hamar asserted that the Housing Ministry is making tremendous efforts to achieve HM the King’s vision to provide advanced services to the citizens in its projects across the kingdom’s governorates, within a comprehensive vision of urban development that copes with the future development challenges and the population growth rates in the kingdom.

 

He indicated that the urban development march currently witnessed by the kingdom is based on a number of foundations that guarantee its sustainability, in response to the constant directives of HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals approved by the United Nations, and are implemented within the Government Action Plan.

 

Al-Hamar lauded the Cabinet’s recent announcement of the kingdom’s intentions to reach net zero carbon emissions in 2060, to help tackle climate change and protect the environment, noting that the initiative will reflect positively on all development efforts in the kingdom.

 

He indicated that the World Cities Day is good opportunity to recall Bahrain’s successful experience in building housing towns and the tremendous achievements attained since its inception.

 

It is worth noting that the World Cities Day was adopted in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, and the first World Cities Day was celebrated in October 2014.

 

The World Cities Day aims to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

 

The observance day ties in with Sustainable Development Goal 11, to make cities “inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

 

 

Source: Bahrain News Agency

 

 

Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, received the German Ambassador to Bahrain, Kai Thamo Boeckmann.

 

Dr. Bin Daina lauded the advanced level of the Bahraini-German cooperation across various fields, stressing the SCE’s keenness to further bolster bilateral cooperation through the exchange of expertise and information in order to achieve the two friendly countries’ interests.

 

He highlighted the quantum leap witnessed by the kingdom in all environment-related fields, as well as its effective role in honouring its obligations in the international agreements and treaties on environment and climate affairs.

 

The envoy expressed his country’s pride in the development of its relations with the kingdom, commending the efforts of the SCE to protect the environment and address the effects of climate change.

 

He expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries will increase in order to contribute to unifying efforts to protect the environment and the climate in a way that would achieve sustainable development goals.

 

 

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Information Affairs Minister and Board of Trustees Chairman of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPA), Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, has affirmed His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s unwavering care for and interest in Bahraini youth, citing the royal directives to provide them with skills and the expertise necessary to be active partners in the comprehensive development process witnessed by the Kingdom.

 

Al-Romaihi praised the great attention attached by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to youth through the implementation of initiatives and training and awareness programmes across various state departments and institutions.

 

The minister made the statements during the ceremony held by the BIPD on Thursday, at the headquarters of the National Action Charter Monument, in honour of the winners and participants in the initiatives in the “Future Bet” programme.

 

The programma was organised by BIPD from June 20 to September 11 this year, with the participation of 64 young men and women, in the presence of a number of BIPD board members and the Executive Director Eman Faisal Janahi.

 

In his speech, Al-Romaihi emphasised BIPD’s great interest in Bahraini youth, reflected in its keenness to provide them with the necessary expertise and skills, according to the highest standards of training and rehabilitation, through a series of professional programmes and events, and with the participation of a distinguished elite of national competencies in various disciplines, in order to create a competent and highly aware generation that is capable of serving the nation and enhancing its gains locally, regionally and globally.

 

While reviewing the implementation stages of the “Future Bet” programme, which is one of the largest political rehabilitation programmes for Bahraini youth, the minister revealed that a total of 326 young men and women aged between 18 and 29 had applied for the programme, and that 64 who met the criteria were accepted, 52 of them, or 80%, were able to pass it.

 

BIPD Board of Trustees Chairman said that the programme aims to empower and educate participants on the comprehensive development process spearheaded by HM the King and stipulated by the Constitution, as well as introduce them to the sustainable development goals and their relationship to the Bahrain Economic 2030.

 

The goals of the programme also include providing the participants with the skills and information necessary to be able to assume their national responsibility and training them on teamwork, by presenting developmental and creative initiatives and suggestions that contribute to the advancement and progress of the nation, in addition to developing their leadership skills, promoting a culture of dialogue and exchanging opinions, and qualifying them to engage in national action.

 

Al-Romaihi stressed BIPD’s keenness to adopt the best standards of training and political rehabilitation, as the programme was prepared to include three phases, namely training, discussion and practice, noting that the first phase included specialised workshops and training sessions, while during the second, or plenary sessions, the programme hosted state officials to discuss a range of issues of concern to Bahraini youth. As to the third phase, it was devoted to presenting proposals and creative initiatives to the participants, which aimed to enhance societal national values and raise political awareness.

 

He extended sincere thanks to the ministers and senior state officials hosted by the programme, stressing the existing partnership between BIPD and various national institutions and personalities in order to achieve the goals of HM the King’s comprehensive development project.

 

He asserted that BIPD has taken advantage of modern technology in order to continue achieving its goals, noting that many programmes have been implemented virtually and attracted thousands of participants from various social segments.

 

The minister honoured the jury members and the trainers who contributed to the success of the programme, in addition to the winning initiatives, namely the “Charity Giving Platform”, the “Fifth Estate”, and the “National Permanent Platform to Support Innovation and Investment”.

 

The “Use of Artificial Intelligence in Simulating Driving Training” initiative also won the Innovation Award.

 

 

 

Source: Bahrain News Agency