Manama: Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, participated in the first high-level panel discussion at the Sustainability Forum Middle East, titled “National Vision: Sustainability Strategies for Competitiveness and Growth”. The session discussed the growing role of sustainability as a central element in national economic transformation, and its contribution to enhancing competitiveness, attracting investment, diversifying the economic base, and creating jobs to support sustainable economic growth.
According to Bahrain News Agency, during his participation, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed emphasized that sustainability has become a key pillar in shaping national policies and preparing economies for future requirements. He noted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to integrate sustainability principles across vital sectors, especially transport and communications, to support comprehensive development goals, enhance the competitiveness of the national economy, and provide an attractive environment for quality investment in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications signed a cooperation framework with Safa, the voluntary carbon offset platform, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the adoption of innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions. The Transportation Minister highlighted that signing this framework reflects the ministry’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and its efforts to integrate sustainability into its programs and operations to reduce the environmental impact of its activities.
Fatima Abdullah Al Dhaen, Undersecretary for Land Transport and Postal Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, said that the initiative relies on advanced digital solutions provided by the Safa platform to accurately measure and manage carbon emissions from the ministry’s air and land travel, and then offset them by supporting accredited environmental projects. She added that the partnership contributes to promoting a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility among ministry employees by providing accurate data and interactive monitoring dashboards that enhance transparency and measure progress towards approved environmental goals.
This initiative reflects Bahrain’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 on climate action and Goal 17 on partnerships to achieve the goals, in addition to supporting innovation and sustainable infrastructure, reinforcing the integration between national efforts and the global sustainable development agenda.