The Resident Coordinator's remarks at World Entrepreneurship and Investment Forum

Honorable Minister,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning and welcome to Manama.

I am pleased to take part in the Fifth edition of the World Entrepreneurship and Investment Forum (WEIF), hosted under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

I would like to commend the work of UNIDO-ITPO and all co-organizing partners in bringing us together today to discuss critical issues related to innovation, entrepreneurship under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the six transitions, to which a dedicated panel will take place this afternoon.

Initiated in 2015, the WEIF become the main dedicated Entrepreneurs Investment Forum by the United Nations, which was reiterated in the Manama Declaration since its first edition in 2015. 

Furthermore, the simultaneous hosting of the WEIF along with the Arab League States Summit this year, reflects the increasingly strategic role played by the Kingdom of Bahrain on the multilateral platform in advancing on the 2030 Development Agenda at the global level.

Ladies and gentlemen,

When the SDGs were formulated in 2015, it was obvious that they couldn’t be achieved without a concerted effort with the private sector. 

In Bahrain, the private sector is a key partner in the United Nations Country Team’s action to achieve the SDGs—by creating employment, building skills, spurring innovation, providing essential infrastructure, and supplying affordable goods and services. 

The private sector is also crucial to achieving the SDG as an investor of much-needed capital, where its partnership with the UN can influence the adoption of inclusive and sustainable business practices.

Last week, I met with business community representatives to get their perspectives and hear their suggestions as we develop the new United Nations Strategic and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Bahrain for 2025-2029. 

We will ensure their vision is captured and pursue the dialogue with the entrepreneurs throughout the next years, including through fora like the WEIF, to help Bahrain achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline. 

Thank you.