PM TO RECEIVE UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR ON MONDAY
GENEVA JUNE 29 (BNA)-- PRIME MINISTER SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA WILL RECEIVE THE 2006 SPECIAL CITATION OF THE UN-HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWARD IN AN INTERNATIONAL CEREMONY IN GENEVA ON MONDAY.
UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON WILL PRESENT THE AWARD TO SHAIKH KHALIFA DURING THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL (ECOSOC) MEETING.
UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UN-HABITAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNA TIBAJUKA ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO CONFER THE AWARD UPON THE PREMIER IN FEBRUARY.
SHE SAID THIS WAS IN APPRECIATION FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING STANDARDS FOR BAHRAINIS BY WORKING ON THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY, UPGRADING OF SERVICES AND MAINTAINING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BAHRAIN.
THE PRIME MINISTER, SHE SAID, HAS SHOWN SPECIAL INTEREST IN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY THE POOR AND THE DISADVANTAGED.
THE AWARD REFLECTS THE STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN BAHRAIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES OF HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA ON THE REDUCTION OF POVERTY.
IT ALSO COMES TO REWARD THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS EXERTED TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS).
SHAIKH KHALIFA AND THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL WILL OPEN AN EXHIBITION THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE STEPS TAKEN BY BAHRAIN FOR MATERIALISING MDGS ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CEREMONY ON MONDAY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL CONCENTRATE ON BAHRAINS FUTURE VISION ON HOUSING FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOME.
IT WILL ALSO SHED LIGHT ON THE ASPECTS THAT HAVE MADE BAHRAIN ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES IN THE GULF.
THE LEADING ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE REASONS FOR WHICH HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THE UN-HABITAT AWARD WILL ALSO BE IN FOCUS.
SHAIKH KHALIFA HAS SHOWN GREAT INTEREST IN THE PROGRESS OF BAHRAINIS SINCE THE FIFTIES.
HE HAS LED EFFORTS THAT HAVE FORMED A GOVERNMENT ABLE TO PUSH BAHRAIN FURTHER BY ENCOURAGING EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, HEALTH AND HOUSING SERVICES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY, SECURITY AND THE POWER OF LAW AND JUSTICE.
AFTER EXPERIENCING RADICAL CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, BAHRAIN TODAY TAKES PRIDE IN HAVING THE BEST ORGANISATIONS, FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN ALL MAIN SECTORS.
IT HAS BECOME THE REGIONAL CENTRE FOR COMMERCIAL, INVESTMENT, CONVENTIONAL AND ISLAMIC BANKS.
BAHRAIN HAS MORE THAN ONCE STOOD FIRST AMONG ARAB COUNTRIES AND IN THE 39TH POSITION INTERNATIONALLY IN THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM RANKINGS ACCORDING TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
BAHRAINS MAIN ECONOMIC INITIATIVES INCLUDE FINANCING THE LABOUR MARKET, THE PRIVATISATION OF CERTAIN INDUSTRIES, LIBERATING ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR AND SIGNING THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) WITH THE US.
MEANWHILE, BAHRAIN TOOK STEPS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE E-GOVERNMENT.
THIS ALLOWS GOVERNMENT BODIES TO BE ELECTRONICALLY LINKED TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS.
THE STEP WILL HAVE BIG INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WILL ALSO PROMOTE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
IT WILL ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CITIZENS TO PAY THEIR WATER AND POWER BILLS, GET COMMERCIAL REGISTRATION AND RENEW THEIR DRIVING LICENSES, WHICH IN TURN REDUCES THE BURDEN ON GOVERNMENT BODIES.
ALSO, BAHRAIN WAS THE ONLY ARAB COUNTRY CHOSEN BY THE UNESCO IN ITS 2007 REPORT AS ONE TOP PLAYERS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.
IT ALSO TOOK DISTINCTION INTERNATIONALLY IN EDUCATION QUALITY RANKINGS.
IN 2007, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD 157 CLASSROOMS.
IT HAS ALSO PROVIDED 1,716 SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR TOP STUDENTS.
SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ALSO HAD A SHARE IN THESE AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENTS KEENNESS ON PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS.
IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH, THE NUMBERS OF DOCTORS, SURGEONS, NURSES, HOSPITAL BEDS AND HEALTH CARE CENTRES HAVE QUADRUPLED.
FREE HEALTH CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS.
BAHRAINS EFFORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE LED TO THE INCREASE OF LIFE EXPECTANCY RATES FROM 57 YEARS TO 75 YEARS.
AS FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN BAHRAIN, HOUSING SERVICES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT STANDARDS HAVE BEEN STEPPED UP IN A SHORT PERIOD.
WITH THE INCREASE OF THE POPULATION TO ALMOST 720,000, THE NEED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT HAS INCREASED.
LAND RESTORATION AND SEA RECLAMATION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT TO PROVIDE HOUSING UNITS AND ESTABLISHMENTS SERVING CITIZENS.
SOME OF THE HOUSING PROJECTS IN BAHRAIN INCLUDED ISA TOWN, HAMAD TOWN AND ZAYED TOWN, WHICH HAVE BEEN BUILT TO OVERCOME SOCIAL GAPS.
ALSO, MANY STRATEGIC PROJECTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT IN LINE WITH BAHRAINS VISION ON DEVELOPING ROADS.
THESE INCLUDED REBUILDING BRIDGES, FACE-LIFTING TRAFFIC JUNCTIONS AND ALSO THE IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS IN VILLAGES AND RURAL AREA.
MAJOR PROJECTS COMPLETED INCLUDE THE KING FAHAD CAUSEWAY BETWEEN BAHRAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA, THE THREE BRIDGES LINKING MUHARRAQ TO THE MAIN ISLAND, THE SEEF DISTRICT JUNCTION AND THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO THE BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT IN THE SOUTH OF BAHRAIN.
PROJECTS THAT HAVE REACHED ADVANCED STAGES ARE THE BAHRAIN-QATAR CAUSEWAY, THE BRIDGE CONNECTING THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR TO MANAMA, THE BRIDGE CONNECTING THE KING HAMAD HIGHWAY TO DURRAT AL BAHRAIN.
THERE ARE ALSO THE BRIDGES LINKING TO OTHER SEA RESORTS AND ALSO OTHERS CONNECTING A NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND TOWNS.
ALSO, BAHRAIN HAS RECENTLY ALLOCATED BD260 MILLION FOR ROAD PROJECTS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
ONE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED IN BOOSTING BAHRAINS ECONOMIC STATUS WAS THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR PROJECT, LOCATED ON THE MANAMA SEA FRONT.
THE HARBOUR HOSTS A NUMBER OF BUSINESS, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE PROJECTS.
IT WILL WORK ON THE ELEVATION OF THE RATE OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND WILL PROVIDE MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
THE PROJECT IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION IN THE KINGDOMS ECONOMY.
MOREOVER, BAHRAIN GAINS INCREASING INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE IN ITS FINANCIAL AND BANKING SECTORS.
THIS CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN CLEARLY INDICATED BY GROWING RATES OF ASSETS OF BANK AND FINANCIAL FIRMS OPERATING IN BAHRAIN WHICH WERE WORTH 190M THIS YEAR.
THE RAPID GROWTH IN THIS DOMAIN SHOWS THE COMPETENCE OF WORKERS IN BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTORS, WHICH INCLUDE 10,000 SPECIALISED BAHRAINIS.
THE CENTRAL BANK OF BAHRAIN HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 55 REQUESTS FROM INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL FIRMS FOR SETTING UP OFFICES IN BAHRAIN.
THIS COMES AS A EVIDENT SIGN OF THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF BAHRAINS ECONOMY.
ALL THESE INDICATORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FORMED THE BASIS UPON WHICH SHAIKH KHALIFA RECEIVED THE UN- HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR.
NTQ.
29-JUN-2007 13:37
UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON WILL PRESENT THE AWARD TO SHAIKH KHALIFA DURING THE UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL (ECOSOC) MEETING.
UN UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UN-HABITAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNA TIBAJUKA ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO CONFER THE AWARD UPON THE PREMIER IN FEBRUARY.
SHE SAID THIS WAS IN APPRECIATION FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING STANDARDS FOR BAHRAINIS BY WORKING ON THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY, UPGRADING OF SERVICES AND MAINTAINING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BAHRAIN.
THE PRIME MINISTER, SHE SAID, HAS SHOWN SPECIAL INTEREST IN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY THE POOR AND THE DISADVANTAGED.
THE AWARD REFLECTS THE STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN BAHRAIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVES OF HIS MAJESTY KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA ON THE REDUCTION OF POVERTY.
IT ALSO COMES TO REWARD THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS EXERTED TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS).
SHAIKH KHALIFA AND THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL WILL OPEN AN EXHIBITION THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE STEPS TAKEN BY BAHRAIN FOR MATERIALISING MDGS ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CEREMONY ON MONDAY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL CONCENTRATE ON BAHRAINS FUTURE VISION ON HOUSING FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOME.
IT WILL ALSO SHED LIGHT ON THE ASPECTS THAT HAVE MADE BAHRAIN ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC AND PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES IN THE GULF.
THE LEADING ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE REASONS FOR WHICH HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THE UN-HABITAT AWARD WILL ALSO BE IN FOCUS.
SHAIKH KHALIFA HAS SHOWN GREAT INTEREST IN THE PROGRESS OF BAHRAINIS SINCE THE FIFTIES.
HE HAS LED EFFORTS THAT HAVE FORMED A GOVERNMENT ABLE TO PUSH BAHRAIN FURTHER BY ENCOURAGING EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, HEALTH AND HOUSING SERVICES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY, SECURITY AND THE POWER OF LAW AND JUSTICE.
AFTER EXPERIENCING RADICAL CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, BAHRAIN TODAY TAKES PRIDE IN HAVING THE BEST ORGANISATIONS, FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN ALL MAIN SECTORS.
IT HAS BECOME THE REGIONAL CENTRE FOR COMMERCIAL, INVESTMENT, CONVENTIONAL AND ISLAMIC BANKS.
BAHRAIN HAS MORE THAN ONCE STOOD FIRST AMONG ARAB COUNTRIES AND IN THE 39TH POSITION INTERNATIONALLY IN THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM RANKINGS ACCORDING TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.
BAHRAINS MAIN ECONOMIC INITIATIVES INCLUDE FINANCING THE LABOUR MARKET, THE PRIVATISATION OF CERTAIN INDUSTRIES, LIBERATING ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR AND SIGNING THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) WITH THE US.
MEANWHILE, BAHRAIN TOOK STEPS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE E-GOVERNMENT.
THIS ALLOWS GOVERNMENT BODIES TO BE ELECTRONICALLY LINKED TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS.
THE STEP WILL HAVE BIG INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WILL ALSO PROMOTE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
IT WILL ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CITIZENS TO PAY THEIR WATER AND POWER BILLS, GET COMMERCIAL REGISTRATION AND RENEW THEIR DRIVING LICENSES, WHICH IN TURN REDUCES THE BURDEN ON GOVERNMENT BODIES.
ALSO, BAHRAIN WAS THE ONLY ARAB COUNTRY CHOSEN BY THE UNESCO IN ITS 2007 REPORT AS ONE TOP PLAYERS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION.
IT ALSO TOOK DISTINCTION INTERNATIONALLY IN EDUCATION QUALITY RANKINGS.
IN 2007, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD 157 CLASSROOMS.
IT HAS ALSO PROVIDED 1,716 SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR TOP STUDENTS.
SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS ALSO HAD A SHARE IN THESE AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENTS KEENNESS ON PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS.
IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH, THE NUMBERS OF DOCTORS, SURGEONS, NURSES, HOSPITAL BEDS AND HEALTH CARE CENTRES HAVE QUADRUPLED.
FREE HEALTH CARE IS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS.
BAHRAINS EFFORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE LED TO THE INCREASE OF LIFE EXPECTANCY RATES FROM 57 YEARS TO 75 YEARS.
AS FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN BAHRAIN, HOUSING SERVICES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT STANDARDS HAVE BEEN STEPPED UP IN A SHORT PERIOD.
WITH THE INCREASE OF THE POPULATION TO ALMOST 720,000, THE NEED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT HAS INCREASED.
LAND RESTORATION AND SEA RECLAMATION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT TO PROVIDE HOUSING UNITS AND ESTABLISHMENTS SERVING CITIZENS.
SOME OF THE HOUSING PROJECTS IN BAHRAIN INCLUDED ISA TOWN, HAMAD TOWN AND ZAYED TOWN, WHICH HAVE BEEN BUILT TO OVERCOME SOCIAL GAPS.
ALSO, MANY STRATEGIC PROJECTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT IN LINE WITH BAHRAINS VISION ON DEVELOPING ROADS.
THESE INCLUDED REBUILDING BRIDGES, FACE-LIFTING TRAFFIC JUNCTIONS AND ALSO THE IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS IN VILLAGES AND RURAL AREA.
MAJOR PROJECTS COMPLETED INCLUDE THE KING FAHAD CAUSEWAY BETWEEN BAHRAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA, THE THREE BRIDGES LINKING MUHARRAQ TO THE MAIN ISLAND, THE SEEF DISTRICT JUNCTION AND THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO THE BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT IN THE SOUTH OF BAHRAIN.
PROJECTS THAT HAVE REACHED ADVANCED STAGES ARE THE BAHRAIN-QATAR CAUSEWAY, THE BRIDGE CONNECTING THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR TO MANAMA, THE BRIDGE CONNECTING THE KING HAMAD HIGHWAY TO DURRAT AL BAHRAIN.
THERE ARE ALSO THE BRIDGES LINKING TO OTHER SEA RESORTS AND ALSO OTHERS CONNECTING A NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND TOWNS.
ALSO, BAHRAIN HAS RECENTLY ALLOCATED BD260 MILLION FOR ROAD PROJECTS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
ONE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED IN BOOSTING BAHRAINS ECONOMIC STATUS WAS THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BAHRAIN FINANCIAL HARBOUR PROJECT, LOCATED ON THE MANAMA SEA FRONT.
THE HARBOUR HOSTS A NUMBER OF BUSINESS, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE PROJECTS.
IT WILL WORK ON THE ELEVATION OF THE RATE OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND WILL PROVIDE MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
THE PROJECT IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION IN THE KINGDOMS ECONOMY.
MOREOVER, BAHRAIN GAINS INCREASING INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE IN ITS FINANCIAL AND BANKING SECTORS.
THIS CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN CLEARLY INDICATED BY GROWING RATES OF ASSETS OF BANK AND FINANCIAL FIRMS OPERATING IN BAHRAIN WHICH WERE WORTH 190M THIS YEAR.
THE RAPID GROWTH IN THIS DOMAIN SHOWS THE COMPETENCE OF WORKERS IN BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTORS, WHICH INCLUDE 10,000 SPECIALISED BAHRAINIS.
THE CENTRAL BANK OF BAHRAIN HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 55 REQUESTS FROM INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL FIRMS FOR SETTING UP OFFICES IN BAHRAIN.
THIS COMES AS A EVIDENT SIGN OF THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF BAHRAINS ECONOMY.
ALL THESE INDICATORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FORMED THE BASIS UPON WHICH SHAIKH KHALIFA RECEIVED THE UN- HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR.
NTQ.
29-JUN-2007 13:37
