The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, has commended Bahrain’s efforts in digitalisation and the use of modern technologies to support sustainable development goals in light of the comprehensive development process, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
In an event co-hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain to launch the “Digital for Sustainable Development” on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Undersecretary for Political Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s pride in organising this new robust event that aims to forge partnerships to promote digitalisation as an enabling force for sustainable development.
This event is in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA).
The Undersecretary for Political Affairs underscored Bahrain’s success story in the field of digitalising, as Bahrain tops the world in internet penetration according to the World Bank, and 5G networks cover 100% of Bahrain, adding that the Kingdom is classified among the leading and highly developed countries in e-government according to the United Nations, noting Bahrain’s presidency of the Digital Cooperation Organisation, and its active membership in the Council of the International Telecommunication Union.
He affirmed Bahrain’s aspiration to sustain its leadership as a regional centre for digital innovation and artificial intelligence and to develop cybersecurity skills and standards, according to the Telecommunications, ICT, and Digital Economy Sector Strategy (2022-2026), and to keep pace with the digital revolution in a way that supports the sustainable development goals, in line with the Economic Recovery Plan, the Government Plan and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, and the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP, Haoliang Xu took part in the event, in addition to a number of stakeholders from UN member states, representatives of the private sector companies for technology and communications, and international and regional organisations.
Source: Bahrain News Agency