Bahrain to host international meeting on Gulf maritime security in early 2020
October 21, 2019, 8:57 am

Bahrain to host international meeting on Gulf maritime security in early 2020

Bahrain will host an international meeting on maritime security in coordination with the US early next year. (File photo AFP)

Bahrain announced on Monday it will host an international meeting on maritime security in coordination with the US early next year, in a statement posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official Twitter account.

“We plan to host a high level political meeting in the first half of 2020 in coordination with our friends from the United States of America on ways to strengthen and promote this important ,” Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, citing a speech given by Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on Monday.

https://twitter.com/bahdiplomatic/status/1186178612610977795

Launched in 2003 the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aims to stop shipments of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, “as well as missiles and related goods to terrorists or countries suspected of trying to acquire WMDs,” according to the statement. Over one hundred countries are participants in PSI, which aims to bolster international laws to conduct “interdictions in international waters and airspace.”

Al Khalifa mentioned last month’s attack on oil processing facilities in Saudi Arabia, saying it was “a brazen act of aggression and disregard to the safety, security, and prosperity of the region and the world.”

He called on PSI countries to “take a collective stand to condemn such attacks and to take the necessary steps to protect our nations from rogue states, non state actors and terrorist groups that conduct such attacks.”

The US government has held Iran responsible for the attack and Saudi Arabia officials said their investigation found the weapons used in the attack were Iranian.

Al Khalifa said his country, as an island nation in the Arabian Gulf, understands the need to protect “our countries from WMDs” and “our waters and commerce from illegal shipments.”

Bahrain joined the US-led International Maritime Security Construct in August, which aims to protect merchant ships and ensure freedom of maritime navigation and international trade. In September Saudi Arabia joined the international alliance, which covers areas that include the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, Sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf.

Al Khalifa mentioned the recent attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the region, saying they threaten global commerce and must be addressed.

https://twitter.com/bahdiplomatic/status/1186178272335290369

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”