Anas Al -Aghbash – Photography: Suhail Minister
The head of the Qatari program and the representative of the Gulf Cooperation Council of the United Nations Human Settlements d. Ayman Al -Hefnawi, that Bahrain is currently an update of the country voluntary report on urban development, noting that the Kingdom has made progress in the new urban agenda.
He added in a special statement to “Al -Watan”, on the sidelines of his participation in the conference and exhibition of innovation in social housing, which concluded its work last Friday, that the United Nations program for human settlements seeks to give a more powerful and durable tincture in building relations with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
Al -Hefnawi pointed out that the strategy of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning is constantly speaking with the introduction of new housing programs that give citizens a hope for the future, explaining that about 60% of Bahraini citizens are less than 35 years old, according to what was reported by the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning Amna Al -Rumaihi, as the new housing programs of the Ministry contribute to developing the housing base.
He stressed that the United Nations Human Settlements Program began working with Bahrain 5 years ago, as it proved its progress in achieving the sustainable development goals, indicating at the same time that the program is continuing to enhance its cooperation with the Kingdom during the coming period.
He pointed out that Bahrain presented a report about 4 years ago during which it proved its endeavor to achieve the goals of sustainable development and the new urban agenda, which is the executive arm of goal No. 11 of the sustainable development goals, which is concerned with making cities and human settlements comprehensive for all, safe and sustainable.
On expanding the horizons of cooperation with the Kingdom, Al -Hefnawi explained that Bahrain’s relations with the United Nations have reached a distinguished level, especially since there are many joint programs that are being implemented, whether with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, or the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture for many partners.
He added that the Innovation Conference and Exhibition in the Social Housing Sector allowed the United Nations Skin settlements program to provide renewed ideas with regard to innovation in the social housing sector, indicating that the conference not only sees the presentation of housing units, but also looks deeply in the social housing sector, which gives a closer look that the housing program in Bahrain is not only the utmost ambition for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, but to reach all The target community groups.
Since its foundation in 2022, the United Nations Human Settlements Program in Bahrain has cooperated with government partners in many projects related to cities and societies, urban agriculture and surface agriculture, sustainable water solutions, and others.
