Day: September 22, 2024

Manama, Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council, stated that Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day opens avenues to highlight the Kingdom’s rich history, ongoing development, and remarkable prosperity. He praised the comprehensive development paths and progress witnessed across various sectors.

The Chairman expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s achievements and valued the strong cooperation, coordination, and partnership between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, supported by the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

He commended the bilateral successes achieved by the two Kingdoms, supported by the close follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

The chairman noted that Bahrain participates in the celebration of Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day, emphasising that this day repr
esents a rich history spanning three centuries of a kingdom, established by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.

He added that the strong, enduring ties between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reflect a deep historical relationship, characterised by effective partnerships in political, economic, security, and cultural fields.

Al Saleh expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s supportive stances towards Bahrain, highlighting its significant contributions to developmental projects and its relentless efforts to protect Bahrain’s interests. He affirmed that this has positively impacted diplomatic communication and unified positions on shared issues.

He also pointed out that the Shura Council is keen to strengthen parliamentary relations with the Saudi Shura Council, leveraging these ties to enhance the deeply rooted relations and promote common interests that benefit both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and their peoples.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Bahrain Bourse, in cooperation with INJAZ Bahrain, launched the 7th Edition of the Smart Investor Programme.

The programme, which has become integral to the government school curriculum, is designed to develop fundamental financial literacy skills amongst 4th grade elementary students.

Her Highness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of INJAZ Bahrain, expressed her enthusiasm for the Smart Investor Programme, highlighting its role as a key element in INJAZ Bahrain’s mission to equip Bahraini youth with essential life skills.

“The Smart Investor Programme is a cornerstone of our mission to empower the youth of Bahrain with essential life skills. Financial literacy is a critical component of this empowerment, and we are delighted to see the positive impact this programme has had on thousands of students over the years. We look forward to another successful edition of the programme, HH Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa added.

Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of
Bahrain Bourse, highlighted the importance of the Smart Investor Programme, noting that it demonstrates Bahrain Bourse’s ongoing commitment to promoting financial literacy from a young age.

He highlighted that by providing students with the necessary knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions, the programme helps build a financially responsible future generation.

Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim expressed pride in continuing the initiative in collaboration with INJAZ Bahrain, while also acknowledging the support of the Ministry of Education and the programme’s sponsors, including Ahli United Bank as Gold Sponsor, and Bank ABC and the National Bank of Kuwait as Silver Sponsors.

The Smart Investor Programme employs interactive edutainment activities to engage students in learning the basics of money management and saving, inspiring them to make informed and responsible financial decisions. The programme consists of seven themed sessions that guide students through critical financial concepts, includi
ng Thinking, Specifying, Planning, Execution, Saving, Progression, and Evaluation.

Through their participation in the programme, students will gain the ability to identify various financial payment methods, such as debit and credit cards, cash, and cheques. They will also learn key financial literacy terms, understand the importance of saving, and acquire essential financial planning principles.

Since its inauguration during the academic year 2018-2019, the Smart Investor Programme has made a significant impact, reaching over 40,500 students at private and government schools in Bahrain supported by more than 1,200 volunteers. The programme’s fourth edition introduced a national competition, further enhancing students’ financial decision-making skills and fostering creativity and entrepreneurship.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Manama achieved 13th place globally in the Digital Cities Index, marking a 12-place improvement from 2022.

The index, developed by Economist Impact, ranks cities based on their performance across four thematic pillars: connectivity, services, culture, and sustainability. It combines quantitative metrics, such as internet speed, and qualitative factors, including policies for technologies like 5G and AI, to evaluate how effectively cities use digital technology to enhance urban living and services.

Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Governor of the Capital Governorate, attributed Manama’s achievement to the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He noted that His Majesty’s vision for sustainable development had driven comprehensive progress across all sectors.

The Governor also credited His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his continuous support, which significantly enhanced the Governorate’s efforts to implement ke
y governmental initiatives.

Shaikh Rashid also noted the efforts of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology, in supporting the Capital Governorate’s adoption of digital technologies.

The Governor reaffirmed the Governorate’s commitment to advancing digital transformation, enhancing electronic government operations, and leveraging modern technologies. He outlined the Governorate’s strategic goals, which included improving electronic services for citizens and residents, increasing public engagement through digital platforms, and strengthening human resources in information systems management.

The Capital Governorate provided various services through its website and the “Asimati” (MyCapital) app, which offered news, information on activities, and details about heritage sites and services within the capital.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, General His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander of the National Guard, received His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE).

HH Gen. Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa commended HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad for his efforts in serving the Kingdom and his leadership of SCE, particularly in safeguarding wildlife and environmental conservation.

The meeting also discussed topics of mutual interest.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Bahrain has ranked 18th in the UN E-Government Survey 2024, advancing 36 positions.

A presentation by the Information and eGovernment Authority (IGA) showed that Bahrain has also advanced from rating class V1 to the highest rating class of VH. The report identifies countries in this category as global leaders in e-government development and services provision.

Twenty-five countries in the region are in the very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI) group, with Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, and Bahrain at the forefront in the highest (VH) rating class.

The iGA presentation was attended by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Interior Minister, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology, committee and authorities that contributed to this global accomplishment.

In his remarks, the minister thanked the representatives of ministries and authorities who contributed to this accomplishment and reinforced Bahrain
‘s e-government status.

General Shaikh Rashid congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the recent distinguished milestones achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain in various national action aspects and the international level. He said these achievements are driven by the reform vision, royal directives and follow-up and support of the government.

The minister thanked the members of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology for their coordination and follow-up to develop performance and e-services to achieve digital transformation operations.

General Shaikh Rashid noted that digital projects by concerned authorities contributed to this advancement in the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024. He added that the reported indicated the advancement of Bahrain in indicators of telecommunications infrastructure, e-services and human capital.

The minister said that this adv
ancement is aligned with objectives of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, particularly in adopting unified strategic planning between authorities and digitalising government services.

During the presentation, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the iGA, said that Bahrain has made clear progress in all main and sub-indicators. In the telecommunications infrastructure index, it advanced 55 places and ranked 10th globally, and in the digital services index, it advanced 31 places, while it advanced 33 places in the human capital index.

According to the report, Bahrain ranked first internationally in the indicators of technology adoption in government services and the digital institutional framework.

The report stated: ‘Bahrain has established itself as a digital development leader through inclusive and multifaceted approaches. The country has implemented agile processes and advanced technologies, enhancing its digital infrastructure and fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem.’

It also highlighted initiativ
es like hackathons, fintech hubs, and the Regulatory Sandbox demonstrate Bahrain’s commitment to accountable governance and sustainable development. It noted that the adoption of a cloud-first approach has reduced infrastructure costs and improved public services efficiency.

Platforms like Sijilat streamline business registration, promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth, it said.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of HM the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, received Eric Giraud-Telme, Ambassador of France to Bahrain.

The meeting discussed current regional and international topics and matters of mutual interest.

HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted the strong Bahrain-France relations in various sectors and advanced cooperation between the two countries.

HH Shaikh Nasser commended the ambassador for his efforts to enhance cooperation across various domains.

On his part, the ambassador congratulated Bahrain for securing four medals (two gold, one silver, and one bronze) at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He commended HH Shaikh Nasser for establishing an environment that supported Bahraini athletes’ success, leading to the Kingdom’s historic achievement as the leading Arab country at the Olympics.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, received high school graduates from public and private schools who achieved a 99% average or higher.

The ceremony was attended by Ayman bin Tawfiq Al Moayyed, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports; Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education; and Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, along with several supporting sponsors.

HH Shaikh Nasser emphasised that the event is not only a recognition of their efforts but also a testament to the Kingdom’s pride in its ambitious youth, capable of facing challenges. He noted that the students have proven their excellence, which serves as motivation for further achievements.

His Highness added, “Bahraini youth are more valuable than oil and precious metals. I always affirm that Bahrainis are like gold. No effort is wasted, and w
e are always ready to support you.”

HH Shaikh Nasser also highlighted the responsibility of authorities to open doors across all sectors, stressing that opportunities are available to embrace the ideas and aspirations, which will contribute to the nation’s progress. He expressed optimism that these graduates will become future leaders.

His Highness referred to the words of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the biggest supporter of youth: “Young people are half of the present and all of the future, and investing in them is guaranteed.”

The ceremony began with a speech by the Minister of Education, who praised the top graduates, expressing pride in their achievements. He also acknowledged the efforts of teachers, staff, and families who contributed to this success.

A student delegate then delivered a speech on behalf of the graduates, expressing gratitude for the Kingdom’s support of education under the leadership of HM the King, the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa,
the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the continued guidance of HH Shaikh Nasser.

The student added that the recognition motivates them to pursue further academic success and contribute to the nation’s development.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Shura Council Chairman, sent a cable of congratulations to Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Shaikh, Saudi Shura Council Speaker, on Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), issued Edict (12) of 2024 regarding the name change of the Bahrain Swimming Association.

The edict stipulated that the name of the Bahrain Swimming Association, registered under clause (7) in the sports federation registration record, shall be changed to the “Bahrain Aquatics Federation” wherever mentioned in the Federation’s summary statute and the registration and documentation decisions.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, sent a cable of congratulations to Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al Shaikh, Saudi Shura Council Speaker, on Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day.

Source: Bahrain News Agency