Innovation crucial to spur growth says Deputy King

MANAMA: The Deputy King has stressed the importance of promoting innovation and competitiveness across all sectors.

Deputy King His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa was speaking as he met industry leaders and top businessmen attending a major investor forum in Bahrain yesterday.

He earlier addressed the inaugural session of the Gateway Gulf Investor Forum being held under his patronage at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.

The Deputy King met Kuwait’s Minister of Finance Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Khaled Nasser Al Roudan and Kuwait Investment Authority managing director Farouq Ali Bastaki.

The Deputy King met vice-president of Worldwide Public Sector for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Teresa Carlson,on the sidelines of the forum.

The Deputy King and Carlson stressed the importance of promoting public and private sector partnerships to drive innovation and competitiveness across all sectors.

The Deputy King also met the chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International, Yusuff Ali M.A.

He highlighted the importance of the retail sector as an engine for economic growth, and emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to supporting innovation and skills development as means to increase the private sector’s contribution to the kingdoms’ economy.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed R. Al Zayani met NHA Company president Gang Yang on the sidelines of the forum.

He also held meetings with Kush Choksy, senior vice-president for Middle East and Turkey Affairs of the US Chamber of Commerce and Oscar Chow, Honorary Consul of the kingdom to Hong Kong.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/361622/Innovation-crucial-to-spur-growth-says-Deputy-King