Bahrain’s strides highlighted at major forum

Manama: July 19 (BNA): Bahrain Institute for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT) Board of Trustees’ Chairman Dr. Shaikh Abdulla Abdulla bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa took part as a keynote speaker in the The South-South Global Thinkers: the Global Coalition of Think Tank Networks for South-South Cooperation. The event was held on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development in the city of New York. Addressing the event, he called for a sound academic dialogue to achieve intellectual communication between researchers and thinkers in the Southern countries to support development issues and partnership in building the building. He highlighted Bahrain’s achievements and gains, stressing the landmark success of the reform project led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in all fields to ensure citizens services in a safe and prosperous environment. He underlined Bahrain’s success in building a constitutional, political, legal, security, economic, social and media system to bolster citizens’ welfare and investment in human beings, being a top national priority in line with the 2030 Bahrain Economic Vision. He outlined Bahrain’s impressive steps over the past two decades to promote reforms and democratic development, people’s participation, protect rights and liberties with legal guarantees and vested state institutions, incorporating sustainable development goals in the economic strategy. He said that the Bahrain has issued the first Voluntary National Report for Sustainable Development Goals, adding that 78 per cent (78%) of these objectives have already been achieved. He said that the Government has allocated a major bulk of 32% of the budget for the sectors of health, education and social insurance, which, he said, earned Bahrain’s international recognition and prizes. DERASAT Board of Trustees’ chairman underlined Bahrain’s strides in rooting out poverty, as per the international standards, promoting women’s partnership, in line with the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Wife of HM the King. Citing key statistics, he said that Bahraini women make up 53% and 39% of the overall national workforce in the private and public sectors respectively, adding that women now hold 45% of the leading state positions. He noted in this regard the election of a woman speaker to head the Council of Representatives, adding that women now hold 18.75% of the parliamentary and Shura Council seats (15 seats) up from 15%. A woman has also been elected, in first, as Bahrain Journalists’ Association (BJA). DERASAT Board of Trustees’ chairman said that Bahrain celebrates this the centennial of the formal education, stressing the Kingdom’s success in achieving 100% rate of primary schooling, eradicating illiteracy and incorporating children with special needs and physical disabilities since 1986. He underlined the issuance of the law on health insurance in August 2018, signaling the beginning of the national health plan (2016-2025) to achieved sustainable healthcare, pointing out by 100 % of population enjoy primary health services.