Pursue ‘innovation and creativity’ to overcome challenges: Minister

Bahrain’s oil minister has expressed his keenness to promote young Bahrainis talents to take up key roles in the industry here, thereby boosting the Kingdom’s overall competitiveness in the sector. The National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and oil companies are “keen to provide specialised courses and training to Bahrainis in the sector,” said Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Mohammed was inaugurating the BSTD Second Annual Human Resources Development International Conference, under the theme “Innovation and Future Skills”, on Sunday at the Diplomat Hotel. The minister said it’s important to boost Bahrain’s empowerment drive in the sector and overcome global challenges “through innovation and creativity,” the minister said. Promoting young Bahrainis to senior positions and help them understand the challenges and competition in the industry would “enhance the development of the oil sector in the Kingdom,” the minister said.

Outlining the benefits, Shaikh Mohammed said Bahrain was able to make the “great historical oil discovery”, thanks to the efforts of ambitious young Bahrainis. In this regard, the minister praised the role of Bahrain Society for Training and Development (BSTD) in promoting and developing human resources. Oil and Gas Academy in The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) is providing appropriate specialised scientific programmes in oil and gas to support young nationals.

The two-day conference organised by BSTD in cooperation with the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations was held in coordination with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA). Tamkeen, The Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding), Nass Corporation, Al Salam Bank and several local and regional companies supported the event. The conference showcased several technical papers and the latest experiences in innovation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence by local and international experts and speakers.

Dr Ramin Mohajer, Advisor to the Ministry of Technology and Communications in Oman, Dr Bijan Majidi, CEO of Dinamica International, Hassan Jarrar, CEO of Bahrain Islamic Bank, Dr Akbar Jaffari, CEO of Jafcon Consultants for Productivity Improvement, and Dr Jassim Haji, President of Artificial Intelligence Society took part.