Works Minister opens Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2021

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf yesterday opened the fifth edition of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit at the Gulf Hotel’s Gulf Conventions Centre, in the presence of Housing Minister Bassim bin Yacoob Al Hamar and senior officials. Technology, sustainability and smart cities experts from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE participated in the twoday event.

Around 250 representatives of public and private entities concerned with transforming sustainable smart cities into a tangible reality took part in the Summit. In addition, more than 15 exhibitors from the private sector, ministries and government departments took part in the accompanying exhibition.

Addressing the event, Minister Khalaf stressed that the importance of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2021 which stems from the fact that it comes after the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, noting that it is among the specialised conferences that provide a platform to avail of the international expertise and pioneering experiences, which will reflect positively on the kingdom’s urban progress.

He expressed confidence that the plenary sessions will provide opportunities to learn how to benefit from integrating successful experiences at the global level with the existing initiatives and studies at the local level to enable the kingdom to make a qualitative leap in the field of sustainable smart cities.

Khalaf expressed thanks and appreciation to the organisers and sponsors of the fifth edition of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit, appreciating all their efforts and endeavours to ensure the success of the event.

During the opening ceremony, Minister Khalaf honoured the winners of the summit’s prizes for their valuable projects related to the establishment of sustainable smart cities that are characterised by sustainability and smart solutions in a number of fields.

Edamah CEO Amin Alarrayed also delivered a statement in which he highlighted the company’s “smart” initiatives, including the Mantis Bahrain Hawar Island Hotel & Resort and Bilaj Al Jazayer development project, noting that the two projects will turn Bahrain into a marine destination, through the use of renewable energy by generating solar and wind energy, as well as water purification.

UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Haoliang Xu, also addressed the summit remotely