UN forum in Bahrain: Innovation as the key to solving global problems

Getting under way in Manama, the fifth World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF), with a key focus on Arab and African regions, is being held under the theme of ‘Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through Fostering Innovation and Economic Growth’. 

Over the next three days, the forum will weigh urgent issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, examined within the framework of the SDGs.

“Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises are at the heart of entrepreneurship and innovation. These businesses represent jobs, opportunity and economic growth for communities and countries alike. In particular, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises that leverage the benefits of science and technology — including artificial intelligence and renewable energy — can help get us back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and develop local solutions to global challenges like climate change,” said the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message to the participants. 

“As we look to the Summit of the Future in September, I encourage this Forum to find ways to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to make our world a better place for all people and the planet we share,’ Mr Guterres said. 

“The timing of the WEIF this year coincides with the Arab League summit. “The sequence of the two events reflects the increasing role Bahrain is playing in the multilateral platform and positioning itself as a proactive player,” said Khaled El Mekwad, UN Resident Coordinator in Bahrain.

“The holding of the WEIF this year also coincides with the formulation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2025 to 2029. And what we did this year, we held a series of consultations and negotiations with the government and national stakeholders at different levels to be able to formulate the new cooperation framework.”

Mr. El Mekwad said this year was the first-time civil society was included as part of the national stakeholders, in addition to the private sector and other development partners in Bahrain. 

“The national ownership was reflected in the discussions where the government of Bahrain embraced the consultations and the negotiations, and we came together with the main pillars of the new cooperation framework, which will be the cooperation framework for Bahrain,” he concluded.

Rethink, reshape development investing

During the opening session, Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), articulated the forum’s commitment to translating the SDGs into tangible outcomes. 

“The theme of our Forum, Six Transition Investment Pathways to deliver the SDGs, challenges us to rethink and reshape our approaches across sectors such as energy and digital connectivity,” she explained.

Ms. Dashti urged stakeholders to leverage digital transformation and enhance education systems to combat climate change and create inclusive jobs, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic partnerships to address pressing global challenges.

‘Architects of the next revolution’ 

Ms. Dashti went on to highlight the pivotal role of young leaders and entrepreneurs, stressing that they are “the architects of the next revolution in global development... Let us be inspired by the collaborative spirit of this forum and remember that our work does not end here.”

She encouraged the Forums’ participants to harness their ideas to bridge the ‘digital divide’, create sustainable environments, and forge pathways out of poverty.

With a robust coalition of stakeholders driving the agenda, the WEIF sets the stage for transformative dialogue and action-oriented initiatives aimed at reshaping the global economic landscape while advancing sustainable development objectives. 

Under the stewardship of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, the WEIF has garnered support from a consortium of influential partners. 

Collaborators include the League of Arab States, the Union of Arab Chambers, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Shenzhen Federation for Entrepreneurship Promotion, alongside various local, regional, and international entities.

Private sector’s critical role 

In an interview with UN News, Fatou Haidara, UNIDO Deputy Director-General, emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector in economic development, particularly in the developing world. 

She highlighted, “It shows the importance of [this] gathering, not only for the private sector but for all actors, policymakers, academia, investment, and financial institutions to come together and see how we can accelerate implementation of the SDGs.”

Highlighting the imperative of working together, Ms. Haidara asserted: “The challenges we are facing today cannot be tackled by one entity, one group. We need collective effort.” 

With a focus on fostering partnerships, WEIF aims to galvanize international cooperation, uniting Arab and African stakeholders to promote investment and entrepreneurship development.

Ms. Haidara also underscored the pivotal role of the private sector in driving investment, technology, and innovation, stressing that these key players will accelerate SDG implementation.