Bahrain’s unique investment opportunities and the kingdom’s sustainability drive will be highlighted by a high-level delegation in the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) that begins today in the Swiss city of Davos.

Led by Sustainable Development Minister Noor Alkhulaif, the delegation includes Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla Fakhro, Osool chief executive and Batelco chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) chief executive Khalid Humaidan, EDB adviser to the board chairman OBE Iain Lindsay, BFG International Group president Dr Samer Al Jishi, and Almoayyed International Group vice-chair Hala Almoayyed.

“We look forward to participating in the World Economic Forum which provides a platform to connect with key global economic decision-makers and promote investment opportunities in the kingdom,” commented Ms Alkhulaif, adding, “It is also an opportunity to discuss the global trends in sustainability and investments practices in the midst of economic and geopolitical challenges.”

The minister will be speaking in a panel discussion titled ‘Formulating the Future: How Women Are Shaping Sustainability Across Sectors,’ and she also will participate alongside Mr Fakhro in a dinner dialogue about climate change in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Mr Humaidan will participate in multiple discussion panels titled: ‘Developing New Realities: Redirected Focus in a Changing World,’ ‘Bricks or Clicks: What Kind of Investment do Economies Need?’, ‘Sustainable and Digital FDI,’ and ‘Busting Business Barriers.’

In addition, the delegates will have multiple strategic meetings and networking events on the sidelines of the forum with the aim of attracting more investments to the kingdom to contribute to further job creation and boosting the economy.

Most of the sessions attended by the Bahraini delegation are closed-door meetings that will not be open to the public.

Founded in 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab, the WEF is an international non-governmental organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland.

It’s declared aim is to “bring together decision-makers from across society to work on projects and initiatives that make a real difference”.

A statement on the forum’s website says, against the backdrop of global economic, political and social crises, the WEF is convening its 53rd annual meeting under the theme “Cooperation in a Fragmented World,” gathering leaders from government, business, and civil society to address the state of the world and discuss priorities for the year ahead.

“The twin triggers of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine rattled an already brittle global system. Economic growth in the world’s largest economies is stalling, while navigating headwinds from rising food and energy prices.

“For the first time since the 1970s, the world is facing a precarious disequilibrium with growth and inflation moving in oppositive directions. This is occurring alongside heightened geo-economic fragmentation, financial sector vulnerabilities, including stretched asset prices and high debt levels, and a climate crisis spiralling out of control, which could magnify any growth slowdown, particularly in emerging markets. Unless these systemic and interconnected risks are addressed, the promise of a ‘decade of action’ may become a decade of uncertainty and fragility,” the forum adds.

Confirmed participants include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, US National Security Council (NSC) Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry, India’s Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani, World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, artist Maya Lin, acclaimed soprano and arts/health advocate Renée Fleming and actors and humanitarians Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba.

The forum concludes on Friday.

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