Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, welcomed Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), along with ministers, officials, and delegation heads attending the 29th meeting of GCC Ministers Responsible for Municipal Affairs. The event was held in Bahrain as part of its presidency of the 46th session of the GCC Supreme Council, also known as the Bahrain Summit. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, was also in attendance.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah reiterated Bahrain's steadfast support under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This support focuses on advancing various tracks of GCC joint action, particularly in the municipal sector, aiming to fulfill the visions and aspirations of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries, and contributing to the region's development and prosperity.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah emphasized that the outcomes of municipal work directly impact the daily quality of life for citizens. He noted that the municipal sector has become integral to developing infrastructure that attracts investment and supports economic growth, positioning municipalities as central to achieving the ambitious development and economic visions of the GCC countries.
Messages of goodwill were exchanged, with the participants conveying greetings from Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC leaders to His Majesty the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. In return, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah conveyed greetings from His Majesty the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the GCC leaders.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah praised the remarkable progress in GCC joint municipal work, highlighting the sector's transformation from providing basic services to adopting advanced strategies and innovative solutions aligned with global best practices and sustainable development trends. He expressed hope that the meeting would yield effective outcomes and decisions to enhance municipal work efficiency and support comprehensive development across the GCC countries.
Furthermore, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah lauded the dedicated efforts of the ministries responsible for municipal affairs in the GCC countries and the GCC Secretariat-General in coordinating and unifying joint efforts. The officials attending the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening integration in the municipal sector and further developing its outcomes to support the GCC countries' development visions.