His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today met His Excellency Mr Li Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on the sidelines of the UNIDO 2016 Expo, which marks the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s establishment. His Royal Highness is attending the Expo as a guest of honour on behalf of His Majesty King Hamad.

During the meeting, His Royal Highness highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, which require collective and universal efforts to pursue long-term prosperity. In this regard, His Royal Highness underscored the global role His Majesty King Hamad has played in delivering economic empowerment for youth and women, which has been recognised by the UNIDO and the international community.

His Royal Highness went on to congratulate the UNIDO Director General on the celebration of the organisation’s 50th anniversary, and highlighted the UNIDO’s achievements through its promotion of industrial development in developing and transitional countries. In this regard, His Royal Highness praised the strategic partnership between Bahrain and the UNIDO, locally and internationally, which includes the establishment of the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Bahrain, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. His Royal Highness also underlined the success of the “Bahrain Model for Economic Empowerment”, which has been implemented in 48 countries worldwide.

‪The Crown Prince emphasised Bahrain’s enduring commitment to playing a pioneering role in economic empowerment, which is in line with His Majesty King Hamad’s development programme. His Royal Highness added that recognising His Majesty’s global role in these areas represents decades of work and the development of innovative initiatives that have ensured a better future for women, young people and entrepreneurs. 

For his part, His Excellency Mr Li Yong, the Director General of the UNIDO expressed his appreciation for the leading role Bahrain has played in supporting UNIDO initiatives and projects. His Excellency went on to praise His Majesty King Hamad’s vision, highlighting His Majesty’s commitment to the economic empowerment of women, youth and entrepreneurs. 

In this regard, His Excellency also paid particular tribute to the unwavering efforts of the Labour fund ‘Tamkeen’ in supporting the implementation of the Bahrain Model for Economic Empowerment, and expressed his keenness to develop further partnerships with Bahrain in the future.