His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister today participated as the guest of honour in the UNIDO 2016 “Together for a sustainable future” Expo.
The UNIDO Expo coincides with the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s establishment, and recognises two decades of strategic relations between UNIDO and Bahrain, which produced the Bahrain Model for Economic Empowerment that is now being followed in 48 countries.

During the opening ceremony, the Crown Prince received an award on behalf of His Majesty the King in recognition of the global role His Majesty and Bahrain have played in delivering economic empowerment for youth and women through the Bahrain Model for Economic Empowerment. The Crown Prince made the following remarks: 

It is an honour to receive the UNIDO award on behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The award recognises the global role His Majesty and the Kingdom of Bahrain have played in delivering economic empowerment for youth and women.

His Majesty’s comprehensive reform programme is built upon the principles of the 2001 National Action Charter, which continues to drive programmes and initiatives that advance individual rights and justice, enhance accountability, and increase participation in sustainable development. 

This award is representative of the diligent efforts and innovative initiatives that over many years have delivered better futures for women, youth and entrepreneurs in Bahrain.

Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women is dedicated to promoting women’s empowerment and has played a vital role in increasing women’s participation in the workforce by over 36% since Bahrain became a member of the UN in 1971. Female workers now constitute 53% of the public sector workforce and 30% of the private sector workforce. In addition, the pioneering Tamkeen labour fund, which drives entrepreneurial development through grants and guidance, has invested over 800 million Bahraini dinars (2 billion US Dollars) to support 95,000 Bahrainis since its inception a decade ago, with many of the beneficiaries being young people and women.

Far reaching labour reforms within the Kingdom have significantly increased protections for workers, ensured freedom of labor movement and combatted human trafficking. 

Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, launched eight years ago, reinforced the principles of sustainability, fairness and competitiveness as the basis of social and economic development in the Kingdom. Since the launch of Bahrain's Vision 2030, the Kingdom's GDP has increased 28% with a 47% increase in the average income of a Bahraini family.

The Kingdom recognises that UNIDO has played an important role in alleviating poverty and empowering youth and women across the world for half a century, and Bahrain is delighted to have been an active and dedicated contributor to these efforts.

We are deeply proud to say that our partnership to facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship has delivered real societal and economic improvements that have expanded opportunities and inspired change.

The Kingdom of Bahrain began hosting the UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office 20 years ago, which went on to produce the Bahrain Model for Economic Empowerment that is now followed in 48 countries across the globe.

We are, however, aware that given the challenges the world faces we must re-double our efforts to ensure our shared progress is built upon.

Bahrain’s longstanding diversification efforts have consistently focused on investing in citizens’ futures and equipping future generations with the resources they need to reach their creative goals and aspirations. These efforts have been underpinned by providing the private sector – which now employs more Bahraini citizens than the public sector – with the tools it needs to support our modern and inter-connected economy.

In a speech during the opening ceremony of the UNIDO Expo, the Director General of UNIDO, HE Li Young, said that he was privileged to present awards “those who have made the programme possible: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain who is represented by His Royal Highness, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain”.

The Managing director went on to highlight Bahrain’s achievements in delivering economic empowerment for women and youth by saying “one of UNIDO’s success stories in supporting women’s economic development and the positive impact it has had on women’s lives: the Entrepreneurship Development and Investment Promotion Programme – EDIP Programme – that is implemented by the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Bahrain.”

The Managing Director added that “The EDIP Programme has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, particularly female entrepreneurs, to realise their dreams and aspirations in developing and growing their own businesses.The progamme, implemented through the Arab International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is so successful that it is now being replicated in 48 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.”.