The event, organised by the Expatriate Association Federation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, welcomed the call of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to resume the National Consensus Dialogue, calling all parties to eliminate all the differences aside and sit together to start the dialogue with true hearts.
The Secretary General of Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations, Betsy Mathieson said in her speech delivered during the carnival, “Thank you Bahrain,” held today at Bahrain National Stadium and organized by the Federation of Expatriate Associations, “We wish as Expatriate Communities to have a place in the dialogue. We deserve to be invited to the dialogue to have high participation for a stronger Bahrain which is proceeding towards a new era of progress and prosperity.”
“The support received for the Carnival, “Thank You Bahrain,” held on Friday, has been outstanding,” she said. She said that the event was patronised by HRH the Prime Minister calling the expatriates, sons and daughters of Bahrain.
Meanwhile, the event held at the indoor stadium of the National Stadium gathered the embassies of Egypt, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, United States, Palestine, Pakistan, India, Thailand, United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Trade and Investment body. It also included the British Council, Electricity and Water Authority, the Supreme Council for Women, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, General Directorate of Traffic, Civil Defense, Ministry of Health. The event also gathered Budaiya Pre School, Orthodox churches of St Mary and St Peters, Mar Thoma Church, Kerala Catholic Association, Art of Living Foundation, UAE Exchange, Pakistan Club, Pakistan Women’s Association and American Women’s Association.
The morning session involved the performance of the Indian School Bahrain band, which played at all the venues.
Ambassador of the UK to Bahrain, Iain Lindsay, said that though it was the first event of this type it’s a great success.
“The British Embassy is among the foremost missions in the Kingdom to give support to this event,” he added. The British community in Bahrain, he said, was contributing in a large way to the enhancement of relations between the two peoples.
Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chilman Arisman, said that the 8,000 Indonesians in Bahrain consider the event a great one to stand in solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain. “An event such as this will help strengthen the relations between Indonesia and Bahrain,” he said.
“The bilateral trade bonds between the two countries and the opening of tourist potentials in Indonesia to the people of Bahrain will benefit,” he added. “Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Bahrain is only $125 million in 2011,” he said. “We plan to open the tourist destinations such as Jakarta, Bali. We are among the foremost G20 members,” he added.
Indonesia, with 17,500 islands is also the biggest Islamic Country, he added. Indonesia has a population of 240 million people, 80 per cent of who are Islamic. The ambassador said that his country has many export products to benefit Bahrain, including furniture, textile, handicrafts, and automobile spares. “We look for the people to contact,” he added.
Ambassador of Malaysia to Bahrain Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad said that the event was the first of its kind, and has to be lauded and he expressed gratitude to the secretary general of Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations.
“The theme, One Bahrain and One heart are to be better focused and I would like to say one Bahrain, unity first. We look at how to get wider participation. This will also have a bearing on the reform that the government is now initiating,” said the Ambassador.
“As expatriates this is our second home. Our children school here and we have the opportunity to interact with the various cultures here. We like to show our support to Bahrain with this. As a Malaysian in Bahrain, I hope this country will become a hub like Singapore, Bahrain is very modern and progressive.”
The Ambassador praised the initiative of going for the dialogue taken by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. “We are fully supporting such profound initiative. It shows the stress he places to human rights and individual freedoms,” he said.