Eskan Bank and The BIBF successfully concludes its Hybrid Forum: ‘Leading a Sustainable Economy’

Sunday, November 14, 2021

The BIBF and Eskan Bank successfully concluded the first Hybrid Forum, under the theme: ‘Leading a Sustainable Economy’.

With the physical and virtual attendance of over 500 officials, senior executives and business professionals representing various sectors, the one-day Hybrid Forum was held at the BIBF new Auditorium in Bahrain Bay to exchange ideas and experiences on strategies to achieve a sustainable economy in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

His Excellency Eng. Basim Bin Yaqoob Al Hamar, Minister of Housing and Chairman of Eskan Bank, inaugurated the Forum and delivered an insightful keynote speech highlighting the importance of sustainability, which is based on ensuring the rights of future generations to the availability of resources and an appropriate economic environment.

The Minister pointed out that economic theories and societies are based on the increase and acceleration in growth rates, which makes it a challenge to the principle of sustainability, and therefore it is necessary to consider economic policies that are more responsive and interactive with the variables imposed by economic nature and the increase in population growth. The Minister also shed light on the four pillars of sustainability, which are the environmental, economic, social, and legislative. This was followed by welcoming remarks by Eskan Bank and the BIBF.

The Forum featured a distinguished list of speakers and panelists, who discussed the most pressing sustainability topics with a global lens and a regional and local focus, with five learning tracks, namely Leadership, Affordable Housing, Performance Measurement, Innovation and Human Capital.

The Forum’s discussions centred around five main panel discussions covering the following topics:

1. Change Leadership and Mindset Shift,
2. Sustainable Affordable Housing Models,
3. Sustainability Innovation and Product Development,
4. Sustainability Adoption and Measurement, and
5. Human Capital of the Future,

The Forum concluded with key takeaways listing the importance and urgency of following business strategies that focus on reaching the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and finding solutions that represent a more strategic approach to doing business.

The Forum on “Leading a Sustainable Economy” served as a springboard for leaders to brainstorm more sustainable and economically beneficial choices for businesses.