MANAMA: The Arab Forum on Sustainable Development is a step in right direction towards devising, implementing and achieving the goals set for Arab region’s sustainable development, the Minister of Social Development said.
“The Arab Forum on Sustainable Development plays an important role in shaping perception within the potential agenda of the region’s requirements for finance, reconstruction, social and environmental protection, integration of vulnerable categories and handicapped persons in the community to enable them to perform their important role in the development process,” the Minister of Social Development, Faeqa bint Al-Saleh told the opening session of the Forum.
“This requires strengthening businesses for sustainable development in the Arab region and utilization of technology and, essentially, integration of sectorial issues into sustainable development goals, building upon the gains made by the region over the past two decades,” the minister said.
She extended her sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister, for graciously having this major international Arab event under his Royal Highness’s patronage, emphasizing the fact that the Kingdom of Bahrain pays appropriate attention to supporting joint Arab development action. She said that sustainable development issues of economic, social and environmental sectors receive special attention by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“This is a clear evidence of keen interest of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa to have this forum under His Highness’s patronage and to open its functions. This also obviously emphasizes Bahrain’s support of the appreciated Arab efforts that aim at achieving sustainable development within the Arab countries,” she affirmed.
She said that the United Nations has awarded His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the Prime Minister, the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in recognition of His Royal Highness’s distinctive achievement in urban and habitat development, as well as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Award.
She also stressed that the outcome of this forum supports the Arab efforts that aim at incorporating Arab priorities within the global post-2015 sustainable development agenda, especially upon the adoption of the Arab Summit resolution at Sharm El Sheikh, which has consolidated the ongoing efforts to incorporate priorities of the region within the prospective global agenda.