This morning, Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, opened the work of the First International Conference on Border Management and Technology in the Middle East, which is organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the International Association for Border Management and Technology, in the presence of a number of senior officials and the participation of an elite group of experts and specialists in the fields of law enforcement, customs, immigration, international organizations and leading technology companies.
On this occasion, the Minister of Interior delivered a speech in which he said:
On this day, I am pleased to witness together the opening of the Border Management and Technology Conference, this distinguished qualitative event held for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to constitute a bright station in the process of regional and international security and technical cooperation, and a pioneering platform for constructive dialogue and the exchange of visions and experiences between an elite group of officials, experts and specialists in the field of border security management and modern technologies.
In this regard, I am honored to express my sincere loyalty and great gratitude to the status of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great king of the country, may God protect and preserve him, the leader of the comprehensive development process, the inspiration for Bahrain’s modern renaissance, and the builder of the foundations of its advanced and prosperous state. Through his wise visions and sound directives, His Majesty was able to consolidate the Kingdom of Bahrain’s international standing, and to make security and stability a pillar of renaissance, and the citizen a focus of development and progress, so that the homeland, under his wise leadership, remains a symbol of giving and a symbol of cohesion, innovation and prosperity. I also have the honor to extend the highest meanings of appreciation and pride to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect and protect him, who embodies, with his insightful vision and wise leadership, the approach to development and modernization in various fields, and directing the government work system towards excellence, efficiency and innovation.
Distinguished attendees, holding this conference in these serious circumstances reflects the practical response to keep pace with the rapid developments that the world is witnessing in light of the major technical transformations and emerging security challenges, as well as the variables that affect border security and the stability of societies. The concept of border security for any country is no longer limited to protecting borders in the traditional sense (land, sea, and air). Rather, we can add another dimension to it, which is the virtual world, which has become an outlet that is exploited to influence the security of societies, through modern technology, to bypass traditional border security procedures, which has become a threat to constants, inherited national values, economic aspects, and various aspects of life, which calls for the importance of updating legislation and developing joint action procedures to confront this.
Dear audience, border management today has become a science based on artificial intelligence, big data analysis, smart surveillance systems, and advanced cybersecurity solutions, enabling concerned agencies to shift to proactive response, from follow-up to prediction, and from traditional control to integrated smart management. The future of border management depends on enabling humans to combine innovation and technological development, as advanced technologies are only fully effective with qualified personnel with practical field experience capable of absorbing and using them efficiently and responsibly.
The complex challenges we face today, such as cross-border terrorism, organized crime, money laundering, irregular migration, smuggling of narcotic and prohibited substances, and the accompanying risks, whether digital or cyber threats, undoubtedly require us to work as one team, strengthen integration between national, regional and international institutions, and consolidate the principles of partnership and mutual trust in the continuous and immediate exchange of information and expertise.
In this context, the Bahraini experience, which we are proud of, in developing border port systems and employing modern technologies in managing the movement of passengers and goods, represents a distinguished model in raising performance efficiency and facilitating procedures while maintaining the highest standards of security and safety.
In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all members of the agencies concerned with border security, for their sincere efforts in implementing their national responsibilities, and my thanks go to the International Association for Border Management and Technologies for their good efforts to hold this conference. I also thank all the contributors and attendees for their active participation, with sincere wishes to everyone and good luck and success to the work of this conference, God willing.
After that, His Excellency the Minister of the Interior toured the exhibition that was held on the sidelines of the conference, and it includes the latest programs and technologies specialized in developing border security systems and analyzing data on the movement of travelers and trade. His Excellency praised the advanced technologies contained in the exhibition that contribute to opening broad horizons towards enhancing their use in the field of border management and contribute to raising the efficiency of performance.
Representatives of more than 22 countries are participating in the work of the International Conference on Border Management and Technology in the Middle East, which contributes to strengthening international cooperation and exchanging experiences related to plans to enhance international trade and risk management. The conference aims to develop the movement of trade and travel, and integrated border management, through the optimal use of data and digital identity, in addition to applying modern systems and technologies for cooperation between the relevant sectors to enhance the efficiency and security of border operations, in addition to following up on the latest developments, best practices and experiences in this field. The conference also includes working sessions in which specialists and experts speak about the importance of developing Working in the field of border security, and learning about the successful experiences of the participating countries.
