22 March 2015
H.E Shaikha Mai’s Meets with Islamic Development Bank Chairman
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) president, met on 22 March 2005 the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) chairman, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and discussed a number of projects as part of the overall effort to conserve Arab and Islamic culture and heritage.
H.E thanked the IDB management for supporting ambitious projects as a long-term investment for future generations which reflects keenness on conserving the cultural legacy in the region. The two sides discussed continuous IDB support for the Pearl Trail project through soft financing. In this regard BACA president stressed the importance of the project as a source of revenues which would contribute to the economic diversification and job creation.
Both sides discussed ways and means of supporting the necessary infrastructure which would ensure the revival of handicrafts and heritage industries, particularly weaving and pottery which date back 5000 years in Bahrain. H.E Shaikha Mai stressed the importance of traditional crafts as a source of revenues, pointing out Bahrain's 2015 cultural celebration under the theme ‘Our Heritage... Our Wealth’. Dr. Ali commended BACA-led efforts to conserve heritage in Bahrain.
Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, for his part, expressed his admiration of Bahrain's cultural accomplishments and praised the standard of ambitious plans to preserve heritage, citing the kingdom's solid cultural and intellectual background which qualifies Bahrain to continue influencing world cultures and consolidate relations among other civilizations.
