NEW YORK CITY: In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Bahrain won wide praise for its successful response, which experts said balanced the public health crisis with sustainable development objectives in a way that demonstrated the country’s commitment to “leaving no one behind” and embracing technology to drive innovation.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News in New York City on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals, Noor Alkhulaif, Bahrain’s minister of sustainable development, shed light on the strategies and initiatives that shaped the government’s approach to tackling the pandemic.

The forum is a UN platform that brought together global leaders and stakeholders to review and discuss progress, challenges, and solutions related to SDG implementation.

The SDGs are a set of 17 global objectives adopted by all UN member states in 2015. They serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.

They aim to address a wide range of interconnected issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, climate action, and sustainable economic growth, among others. Each goal has specific targets and indicators to measure progress toward achieving a more sustainable and equitable world.

Alkhulaif said she had pride in Bahrain’s handling of the pandemic, efforts that led to recognition from the World Health Organization. She credited the success to the decisive guidance and clear directions to the government and institutions provided by the country’s leadership, King Hamad, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. She noted that they played a crucial role in the formulation of the response, which included equal access to healthcare for all, regardless of nationality.

“We’re definitely so proud of the way Bahrain has handled (the pandemic), and the recognition that it has received from the World Health Organization specifically reflects the efforts that were put into the response to the pandemic,” Alkhulaif added.

Bahrain’s key strategy was to prioritize public health and, at the same time, address the social and economic challenges posed by the pandemic.

The minister said: “So, in the beginning, really, the focus was on the health side: How do I ensure I restrict the spread of the virus given that there was very limited information across the world?

“And so, His Majesty’s direction from the beginning was, ‘make sure that everyone receives the same care and there’s no differentiation between Bahrainis and residents,’ and everyone got the same testing, treatment, vaccination free of charge.

“In order to do that, of course, you needed governance, and you needed the management. And in Bahrain, even before the first case was reported, we already had a war room that was set up.”

The war room was primarily led by young talents who monitored the situation and provided recommendations for swift decision-making.

Bahrain, a small island nation in the Arabian Gulf, has a rich history and cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. As one of the oldest trading centers in the world, Bahrain has been a crucial crossroads of cultures and civilizations.

In recent decades, the country has made significant strides in economic diversification and sustainable development. Its strategic location, coupled with a dynamic vision for the future, has transformed the nation into a regional financial and business hub.

Bahrain’s economy has traditionally relied on oil and gas resources, but the government’s long-term vision, encapsulated in Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, focuses on reducing dependency on oil revenues and diversifying the economy. The vision emphasizes sustainable development, human capital development, and innovation.

With a population of around 1.5 million, Bahrain has invested in various sectors, including tourism, IT, financial services, and logistics, to create a resilient and sustainable economy.

The nation’s response to the pandemic was not limited to the health sector but extended to the social and economic aspects.

At the onset of the pandemic, in mid-March 2020, Bahrain launched the first round of a stimulus package worth more than 4.5 billion Bahraini dinars (around $11.9 billion). It included exemptions on fees for citizens, residents, and companies, as well as targeted support to those directly affected, such as taxi drivers and nursery schoolteachers. Initiatives were also implemented to stabilize the labor market and support financial markets.

“We had a liquidity support fund that was doubled in size so that companies could access some cash if they were struggling. More initiatives were launched over a period of time to ensure the stability of the labor market so that the salaries of Bahrainis were paid, and also to relieve some of the burden on the companies,” Alkhulaif added.

Central to Bahrain’s response was embracing technology and innovation. The country quickly developed a comprehensive app — called BeAware Bahrain — that allowed citizens and residents to access vital information, book vaccinations and testing appointments, and receive the latest updates on the pandemic.

Alkhulaif pointed out that the pandemic accelerated the pace of innovation in Bahrain, with the Bahrain International Circuit contributing by designing and manufacturing ventilators.

“It sometimes takes a pandemic or something of that nature to get people to change pace and really speed up what they do,” she said, adding that the spirit of innovation and commitment to sustainable development and economic diversification continued after the worst of the pandemic was over.

“So, at the end of 2021, coming out from maybe the most difficult period of the pandemic, we launched the economic recovery plan, and really that stimulated the economy.

“We saw positive results straight after, because we had initiatives from supporting the main sectors, launching a package of infrastructure projects, more initiatives to support labor markets, more work also on the fiscal sustainability of the government.”

Alkhulaif highlighted Bahrain’s second voluntary national review at the HLPF, which showcased the country’s achievements and progress.

With Bahrain’s pandemic response being rooted in the principle of leaving no one behind, stakeholder workshops ensured that diverse perspectives, from the private sector to NGOs, women, and youth groups, to the National Assembly, were considered in producing the yearly report on progress on achieving the SDGs, reflecting Bahrain’s unity and commitment to inclusivity, she said.

“Our national review really covers or reflects the views of different segments and stakeholders,” she added.

On vulnerable groups such as women and foreign workers, Alkhulaif reiterated the principle of leaving no one behind. Bahrain provided equal access to health services and extended visas without extension fees to foreign workers. The government’s focus on supporting women during the pandemic allowed them to work from home.

She said: “Also, the husbands of women who were on the front lines … were also allowed to work from home because they were the ones needed to support the family.”

Regarding Bahrain’s response to the pandemic’s impact on education, Alkhulaif added: “Within a very short period of time, there was an education platform which had all the material that students could access. Education was swiftly moved online, and everyone carried on with their education. There were classes on TV as well as on YouTube.”

The pandemic highlighted global disparities in vaccine distribution, with developed nations vaccinating their populations at a faster rate than developing countries. Bahrain, however, was seen as a paragon of commitment to global partnerships and equitable vaccine access.

The country participated in vaccine trials and joined the COVAX initiative, displaying its dedication to ensuring equitable access to vaccines for all, Alkhulaif said.

The COVAX initiative is a global collaboration co-led by the WHO, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. It aims to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, especially low- and middle-income nations, regardless of their ability to afford them or produce vaccines domestically.

Alkhulaif highlighted the lessons learned from the pandemic: Having a robust plan, such as the economic recovery plan, and partnering with the private sector were essential for economic diversification and resilience, and Bahrain’s strong healthcare system and human capital further supported its response.

As the minister of sustainable development, Alkhulaif emphasized that the pandemic provided valuable experience. Bahrain’s economic recovery plan, launched at the end of 2021, focused on supporting key sectors, infrastructure projects, labor markets, and fiscal sustainability.

“We’ve had six extra strategies covering tourism, ITN and digital economy, the oil and gas sector, financial services, and logistics. So, those sectors now have a road map to go on to ensure that we continue to strengthen those sectors,” she added.

Looking ahead, Alkhulaif said Bahrain remained committed to sustainable development, aligning its vision with international expectations, and would continue to be a global player in driving progress toward achieving the SDGs that will make the world a better place.