Bahrain's embassy to UK marks National Day in Sweden

Stockholm, Dec. 10 (BNA): On the occasion of the Kingdom of Bahrain's national celebrations on 16 and 17 December marking the anniversary of the establishment of the modern state of Bahrain as an Arab and Muslim country in 1783 by its founder Ahmed Al-Fateh, the 47th Anniversary of its accession to the UN as a full member and the 19th Anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne, the Non-resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Sweden, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, hosted an event in the Swedish Capital, Stockholm. The celebration and event was the first of its kind in the history of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries to celebrate Bahraini National Day in Sweden. In attendance from the Swedish Foreign Ministry were Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department, Ambassador Ann Dismorr, Head of Regional Trade Promotion for MENA, Ambassador Hakan Emsgard, Head of the Gulf Section, Mr. Hans Grunberg, and Mr. Filip Ahlborn. The event was also attended by Ambassadors, diplomats, journalists, businessmen, and academics On this occasion, the ambassador delivered a speech in which he commended the relations between the two countries. He also noted the success of the recent parliamentary and municipal elections 2018 which received the highest percentage of turnouts in the history of the Kingdom. Shaikh Fawaz also reviewed the pioneering role of the Kingdom in the region in several fields including women empowerment at both the economic and political levels as well as religious coexistence and tolerance. He also added that Bahrain has become the first Arab country to achieve Tier 1 Status in the US State Department Report Trafficking in Persons Report. He went on to express the Kingdom’s keenness to further develop cooperation with the UK in the field of human trafficking. Concluding his remarks, the ambassador focused on trade, stating that trade between the two Kingdoms have doubled this year. He also mentioned the opening of the largest IKEA store in the Middle East in Bahrain earlier this year and the desire to further develop and strengthen trade and commerce in the future. The Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ann Dismorr, expressed her pride in the relations between the two countries and her appreciation of this event which is held for the first time in Stockholm. She added that this event reflects the keenness of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance the relations between the two countries at all levels, namely economic, cultural and political levels. She also conveyed the aspirations of the Swedish Government to further promote and develop trade between the two countries. Ambassador Dismorr concluded her speech by thanking the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting this event, and commended the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain for their efforts to enhance and promote friendly relations and joint cooperation between the two kingdoms, wishing the Kingdom of Bahrain further progress and prosperity.