Deputy King Chairs EDB meeting
HH the Deputy King, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB) Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa gave directives on the importance of the strategic structural scheme related to issues of interest to citizens that include beautification, recreational and service aspects.
HH during his chairing of the EDB Executive Committee meeting today gave directives on the need for coordination between the various bodies involved in the planning and budget for the smooth application of the scheme and taking into account all appropriate government and private projects for implementation.
HH also highlighted during the presentation by the Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Dr Jumaa bin Ahmed Al Kaabi on the strategic initiatives relating to the status of an institutionalised system for the application of a structural strategic plan that should be reviewed periodically to ensure its harmony with the needs of development and the population and taking into account the level of transparency in the land usage.
Within this context Dr Al Kaabi reviewed the strategic structural plan which comes within the framework of the Economic Vision 2030 launched by His Majesty the King and the national economic strategy 2009-2014.The presentation also included the Ministry’s programs and plans within the initiatives implemented during the next phase in addition to data on the current space and that is not constructed on, as well as the distribution of activities and future needs.
The executive Committee of the EDB was briefed by a presentation by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Hassan Abdullah Fakhro on the strategy of the Bahrain Exhibition and Conference Authority for the development of the meetings and incentive programs and conferences, exhibitions. This also included a presentation on the Exhibition City which would be built in Sakhir covering an area of 15000 square meters and is expected to be ready by the end of 2014.
Meanwhile, within this context HH gave directives to focus on high-value activities in the field of conferences and exhibitions, stressing the importance of diversifying and upgrading the quality and effectiveness of the activities in this sector.The he said helped enhance the location of Bahrain regionally and globally, in addition to increasing the contribution of the sector to the GDP and creation of more employment opportunities.
He also commended the efforts made towards increasing the capacity of the Kingdom to host conferences and the exhibitions industry, especially with the large increase in demand and bookings that exceeded the proportion in this sector to 100% affirming the need to speed up the implementation of the plan and its follow-up.
