Rightful recognition

Vienna : The UNIDO award is a recognition to the global role played by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in delivering economic empowerment for youth and women, said Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The Crown Prince was speaking after receiving the prestigious honour on behalf of HM the King from UNIDO Director General Li Young yesterday at UNIDO 2016 Expo in Vienna. 

The expo coincides with the 50th anniversary of the UNIDO’s establishment. It also 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 in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women has played a vital role in increasing women’s participation in the workforce by over 36 per cent since Bahrain became a member of the UN in 1971, Prince Salman said.

Female workers now constitute 53pc of the public sector workforce and 30pc of the private sector workforce. In addition, the Tamkeen labour fund has invested over BD800 million to support 95,000 Bahrainis since its inception a decade ago, with many of the beneficiaries being young people and women, Prince Salman added.

The Crown Prince said that far reaching labour reforms within the Kingdom have significantly increased protections for workers, ensured freedom of labour movement and combatted human trafficking.  

Since the launch of Bahrain’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s GDP has increased 28pc with a 47pc increase in the average income of a Bahraini family, added Prince Salman.

“We are deeply proud to say that our partnership to facilitate entrepreneurship has delivered real societal and economic improvements,” the Crown Prince said, “We are, however, aware that given the challenges the world faces we must re-double our efforts.”

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