Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: Over one trillion US dollars investments are in the pipeline across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region alone in the clean energy sector.
This came as the third edition of two-day Sustainability Forum Middle East, which opened on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain, titled “Mobilizing Action and Investment for Climate and Energy Resilience,” addressed by the leaders in the energy sector.
Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bapco Energies, in his keynote address told over 200 senior business leaders and regional and international sustainability experts, that MENA region alone offers over $1trillion investments in clean energy sector. He also mentioned the strategic $7 billion Bapco modernization project which, according to Bapco Group CEO, Bahrain is seeking co-operation with largest economies in the GCC.
“We are working closely to bring expertise and knowledge from leading economies and leaders in the energy sector including Abu Dhabi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in renewable energy sector.”
He also mentioned investments in human capital by Bapco Energies would continue to invest in Bahrainis to develop a future leadership for creating a sustainable eco system.
The Forum is being held in the presence of Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, and with the support of the Supreme Council for Environment.
The Forum attracted a world-class programme featuring keynotes, fireside chats, and interactive panel discussions covering critical topics essential to achieving regional net-zero ambitions.
Over 50 expert speakers from MENA, Europe, UK, US, Brazil, and beyond shared their insights, strategies, and solutions, including reflections on COP29 in Azerbaijan and the road to COP30 in Brazil. Key themes include strategies for aligning business models with climate action, scaling of climate finance, advancing policy and regulatory frameworks, fostering innovation, and accelerating technological advancements, among others.
The panel discussions featuring senior government officials and business leaders from organizations including: ACWA Power, Aluminium Bahrain, Aramco Ventures, Bank ABC, BNP Paribas, Boston Consulting Group, Central Bank of Bahrain, Google, Gulf International Bank, HSBC, International Finance Corporation, KPMG, National Bank of Bahrain, Red Sea Global, Standard Chartered Bank, talabat, Voluntary Carbon Market, and more.
The Forum is also hosting a special event focused on “Women’s Leadership in Climate and Sustainability” in partnership with the Supreme Council for Women. This dedicated session will highlight the pivotal role of women in shaping the region’s climate and sustainability agenda, featuring discussions with leading female changemakers from across MENA.
The Forum’s second day, January 29, will focus on hands-on learning, with workshops led by leading global management consultancies and specialist regional ESG and sustainability advisory firms including KPMG, Anthesis Group, and Environment Arabia. These sessions will provide participants with the tools and expertise needed to develop effective sustainability strategies, enhance climate-related financial disclosures, and advance decarbonization initiatives.
“We are proud to launch the third edition of Sustainability Forum Middle East, which will again bring together an outstanding lineup of speakers, partners, and attendees. The Forum serves as a key regional platform for high-level engagement, dialogue, and capacity building to support MENA’s climate action. We look forward to two days of meaningful discussions and collaboration that will help drive the region’s transition toward a more sustainable future,” Laila Danesh, Managing Director at FinMark Communications, the Forum’s founder and organiser, said.
