His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa has today become the first Arab leader to be awarded the Development Pioneering Work Shield. The Arab League conferred the award on HRH the Premier in recognition of his crucial role as an architect of modern Bahrain's development and progress and advocate of pan-Arab joint work. 
Deputy Premier His Highness Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa received, on behalf of HRH the Premier, the award from Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheet. The grand ceremony was held at the Arab League's headquarters, in the presence of a large attendance of senior Arab political, intellectual, cultural, press, media, diplomatic and academic personalities. 
The Cairo-based Arab-League has launched the award this year in acknowledgement of the high-profile Arab personalities who contribute to bolstering Arab development. The Deputy Premier took pride in receiving the Arab League Shield for Pioneering Development Work, on behalf of HRH the Premier. 
He conveyed greetings from HRH the Premier to the Arab League and its secretary-general as well as the high-profile attendees, hailing the honour which, he said, represents an acknowledgement "The grand ceremony and the large attendance represent an acknowledgement of HRH the Premier's role in promoting development and stances in serving the nation and championing the Arab and Islamic causes. 
He paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for turning the Kingdom of Bahrain into a pioneering role model for sustainable development which is centered on human beings. He commended the pivotal role of the Arab League in supporting pan-Arab solidarity and complementary relations, wishing the Cairo-based institution and its secretary-general success to achieve the aspired Arab development, progress, security and stability. 
Aboul Gheet delivered an opening speech in which he hailed HRH the Premier's far-sighted development and modernisation vision. He paid tribute to late Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for providing the conditions which contributed to the success of the Premier's vision. 
He hailed the Premier who was in the vanguard, along with a few other Arab trailblazers, who realized that Arabs needed above all to work strenuously to develop nations and promote human beings. He hailed Bahrain's landmark success in becoming a financial and business hub and a destination for investors from the East and West, despite having limited resources.
"HRH the Premier has long realized that a modern state would require a strong and diversified economy", he said, lauding the Premier who capitalized on Bahrain's strengths, strategic location and dedicated people, transforming his country into a regional financial centre. 
"The Eastern Bank Limited was set up as early as 1920, paving the way for ten other banks to be established by 1971", he said, crediting the Premier for capitalizing on Bahrain's location, human resources and historic experience to attract international banks and financial institutions. 
Aboul Gheet underlined the Premier's strenuous efforts to achieved urban and human development despite regional challenges and external impediments. "Conspirators have always been preying on Bahrain's , seeking to bring the Kingdom under their hegemony", he said, adding that all designs would abort. 
Then, a documentary was shown on HRH the Prime Minister and his achievements in the development and modernisation field which enabled Bahrain to work out a balanced economic, political and social development approach making it an economic, industrial and financial hub.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Mutawa expressed happiness about taking part in the celebration, thanking the Arab League and its Secretary General on the noble initiative in honouring HRH the Premier for his pioneering role in Bahrain's growth. He stressed Bahrain's ability to overcome challenges and continue its development march to achieve the aspirations of the Bahraini people and occupy an advanced status at the regional and international level. He commended the key role of HRH the Prime Minister in fast-tracking comprehensive development and boosting citizens' welfare.
The Cabinet Affairs Minister said HRH the Premier's remarkable role in spearheading Bahrain's development has earned him international respect. Therefore, he added, HRH the Prime Minister has been honoured as a man of state, peace and development by granting him many awards and conferring on him many medals and shields. 
The Cabinet Affairs Minister noted that the Arab honour to HRH the Premier is a continuation and a culmination of a series of accolades which will stimulate more efforts to achieve sustainable development in the Arab countries and promote the role of the Arab League in this respect.
Former Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, in his speech, said HRH the Prime Minister have earned this honor for his development efforts at local and regional level, as well as defending Arab interests. 
He added Bahrain is in the 12th place internationally based on per capita income rate and in the 18th place as an e-government country thanks to the role of HRH Prime Minister, pointing out HM the King's confidence in HRH Premier's endeavour to lead the government and the unmissable progress achieved. 
Former Jordanian Prime Minister, former Senate President, Abdulrauf Rawabdeh, hailed the Arab League for honouring an Arab personalities in recognition of his development achievements. He pointed out HRH the Prime Minister's policy to bring about development achievements, while defending his homeland's security and stability, as well as countering calls of sedition and extremism. 
Then, HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa toured the photo gallery held on the sidelines of the award ceremony, which comprised a collection of photos reflecting Bahrain's development efforts and HRH Premier's development role in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 
The award ceremony also witnessed the launch of a book titled (Khalifa bin Salman, leadership made history), prepared by Dr. Omar Al Hassan and released by Gulf Strategic Studies Center. The book reviews Bahrain's development achievements in various fields, as well as the royal leadership's efforts in bringing about progress and advancement in Bahrain. 

Source: BNA