Bahrain wins top honour at major UN forum

GENEVA: Agencies from Bahrain, India, Lesotho and South Africa have won top honours at the United Nations Investment Promotion Awards for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A further three investment promotion agencies (IPAs) were honoured with special recognitions at the awards.

The awards, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), honour IPAs and their governments for their achievements, but also showcase best practices in attracting investment into SDG-related projects that can inspire investment promotion practitioners in developing and developed countries.

“IPAs have a critical role to play in mobilising investment to achieve the SDGs,” UNCTAD’s director of investment and enterprise James Zhan said.

“The award-winning agencies show that, by mainstreaming the SDGs, IPAs can make a valuable contribution to social and economic development.”

The awards were presented at a ceremony yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, immediately after the opening of the World Investment Forum.

Judges said: Economic Development Board (EDB Bahrain) was awarded for its role in attracting a large-scale regional data centre, which will provide cloud computing services in Bahrain and neighbouring countries.

The investor plans to employ 10,000 data-solution architects and will support the advancement of technology education in Bahrain and other countries in the Middle East. 

The award was presented by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/427150