Premier gets top Arab honour

Manama : Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has garnered yet another remarkable achievement to add to his list of triumphs in the field of sustainable development.

The latest being the “Development Work Shield” by Arab League for his landmark contributions to the boom witnessed by the Kingdom in various fields.

The award, a new token of international and Arab appreciation, hailed the Prime Minister as a “high-profile personality with outstanding contributions and an inspiring development vision in the Arab World”.

The award will be bestowed on His Royal Highness during a grand ceremony on April 19 at Arab league premises in Cairo.

The “Development Work Shield” is recognition by the all-inclusive “Home of Arabs” to HRH Premier for his efforts in the field of sustainable development through many initiatives, including the establishment of an international award carrying his name- the Khalifa bin Salman UN-Habitat Award.

Commenting, the Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Abul Gheit, in a letter to HRH the Premier, said, “The distinguished first-of-its-kind Arab is for HRH the Premier’s dedication in achieving sustainable development and progress in Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.”

Gheit further highlighted the Prime Minister’s tireless efforts in enhancing joint Arab action amidst ongoing challenges that pose a threat to Arab national security and stability.

While expressing his unwavering resolve to boost development and bring about more achievements, the Prime Minister earlier said, “Ambitions are endless and as long as we are working, horizons will always remain open for us.”

The 2006 Scroll of Honour Award in Urban Development and Housing by UN-Habitat, the 2010 UNESCO Avicenna Gold Medal, the Millennium Development Goals award in recognition of PM’s crucial role in engineering Bahrain’s development prowess are a few of the many honours received by the Prime Minister, in this regard.

Further hailing Bahrain’s development model, the Secretary-General, in his letter, pointed out that the success in this regard has enabled Bahrain to top the region in human development reports and promoted its experience in sustainable development as a success story.