Government Forum 2016 to spur development

Manama, Sep. 18 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi said the Government Forum was the first-of-its-kind initiative in Bahrain added to the record of relentless efforts to develop government work. The forum brings together ministers, assistant undersecretaries and directors from all ministries and governmental institutions. The minister said the forum was a reliable additional boost to performance and productivity levels to ensure the accomplishment of further liaison, coordination, cooperation and efficacy within the domains of the public sector work. In his statement to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the minister said the forum constitutes an unprecedented effective initiative held as part of the government activities, programmes and plans to promote the interest of the nation and its citizens and the welfare, growth and prosperity of all components and segments of the society, individuals and establishments. The forum will drive the growth and revitalization in Bahrain during a phase of national work that requires everyone to contribute to the efforts by Bahrain at the directives of the leadership to address the challenges, he added. Al Romaihi said the forum is being convened under the auspices of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. It embodies the fact that Bahrain is persistently seeking to create a quantum leap in the process and setup of administrative work in the various governmental agencies and institutions, the minister said. He praised the mustering of efforts by all forces to deal with the current phase in the country teeming with multiple challenges that cannot be tackled without the effective contribution and participation of all institutions. He said the importance of the forum emanates from the high-profile attendance as one of the contributories to develop governmental work adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain at the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, especially as it is the focus of large attention from the various political, economic, organizational and legal circles both inside Bahrain and abroad. The forum brings together leaders, decision-makers and executive officials in the Bahraini government to discuss issues, main challenges and future trends to improve productivity and performance. The forum discusses visions, ideas, themes aimed to exchange and localize expertise and experiences and to open new vistas of cooperation and coordination between the various state institutions to ensure the accomplishment of sustainable development in the Kingdom of Bahrain as part of its comprehensive modernization and reforms process, he said. The minister said there will be more meetings and direct interaction between governmental officials in the next few days that will be one of the main tools for optimal dealing with the obstacles which might face the administrative and organizational work in the state's agencies and public sector institutions especially pertaining to office infrastructure development, technological coordination, executive workflow, the extent of successful achievement of preset developmental goals in serving the Bahraini citizen, implementation of the directives of the kingdom's leadership to provide a more secure, stable and organized work environment, increase the capacity to attract more capital inflows, and ensure the implementation of Bahrain's Futuristic Economic Vision2030. The minister praised the highlights of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's opening speech at the forum inauguration who considered the Kingdom of Bahrain capable of accomplishments despite the formidable challenges facing it, primarily the global decline in oil prices, the global financial crunch and the regional situation. He stressed that the words of His Royal Highness regarding the love of challenge, the infatuation with accomplishment and willpower to achieve the best for the nation and its citizens will be guidelines for the public administration officials and their stimulus to the important adoption of integrated proper administrative policy within the whole governmental work setup in view of the size of its concomitant positive socio-economic effects. Al Romaihi said that the forum will serve as the guideline for the important and essential continuity of launching official initiatives for further development. He cited the prizes distributed during the forum sessions to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, health, the Central Bank of Bahrain, and the Capital Secretariat for their contributions to achievement of Bahrain Economic Development Vision2030 and their effective role in serving the citizens and boosting the values of collective work with state institutions.