Princess Sabeeka chairs 2nd meeting of NIAD advisory council

Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King, President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) and Head of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) chaired the 2nd meeting of the initiative’s advisory council. Her Royal Highness welcomed the board members, expressing thanks and appreciation for their support to the initiative’s goals and developing the agricultural sector in Bahrain in line with the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030. Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Dr. Juma'a bin Ahmed Al Ka'abi made a presentation on the ministry’s public projects which include reviving a local market for agricultural products and establishing a guidance office and an agricultural development fund, in addition to other projects for Agricultural incubators. For his part, Minister of Housing Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar made a presentation on new housing projects and how to invest green landscape in addition to presenting the ministry’s future plans to use house roofs for domestic agriculture, which was adopted by Diyar Al Muharraq project. Chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. Essam Abdullah Fakhro made a presentation on a number of studies conducted by the chamber with regard to providing new investment opportunities for entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. The meeting also included a presentation made by the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources; Environment and Wildlife on related environment evaluation studies and shed light on the Environment Supreme Council’s role and plans in addition to joint projects related to the national initiative. Meanwhile, the initiative’s Secretary-General Dr. Waheed Al-Qassim Al Ameen presented a number of issues to follow up on that include developmental projects and environmental regulations that positively affect development of the agricultural sector . He also highlighted procedures to reinforce cooperation between several bodies and sign memorandums of cooperation between the SCW, ESC and BCCI. The meeting also included a presentation made by the initiative’s Deputy Secretary-General Shaikh Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa on Bahrain International Garden Show to be held next year under the theme “Investment in Agriculture” and highlighted the UNIDO’s office efforts in supporting the Show to attract investment and enter pruners to the Kingdom. The National Initiative for Agricultural Development was launched in 2010 under the patronag of HM the King and the decision of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka.