Bahrain Champions New Economic Playbook
At the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) 2025 in Tianjin, China, the Kingdom took centre stage as a strategic thought partner in crafting new economic models grounded in innovation, investment connectivity, and regional collaboration.
Global stage
H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), co-chaired the summit, joining a select group of global leaders from government and business.
More than 1,700 figures from across 80 nations attended the three-day event focused on economic resilience and transformation in a volatile world.
Bahrain's participation, as both a contributor and convener, brought its long-standing themes of regulatory reform, human capital development, and sustainable diversification into high-level discussions spanning finance, technology, and policy.
New order
Among the panels H.E. joined was 'Contours of a New Economic Order', which examined how nations are seeking to diversify away from traditional sectors and realign policy through regional cooperation.
Another session, 'MENA–China Trade and Investment Relations', highlighted Bahrain's pitch to position itself as an investment gateway linking Asia and the Middle East.
The discussions reflected the Kingdom's deepening trade diplomacy with fast-growing Asian markets, aligning with China's own Belt and Road expansion across the Gulf.
Skills and strategy
In sessions on digital skills and inclusion, Bahrain's efforts to build a future-ready workforce were spotlighted, including the ongoing rollout of the Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator.
Throughout the forum, Bahrain EDB teams also held bilateral meetings and private networking sessions to attract investors and reinforce Bahrain's credentials as an agile, reform-driven economy.
Big signal
The co-chair invitation underscores WEF's recognition of Bahrain's consistent participation in global dialogue, and the strategic relevance of its transformation agenda.
It also signals that smaller but nimble economies like Bahrain are no longer just passive observers but active architects of global growth debates.
Bahrain's presence in Tianjin reflects its broader diplomatic and economic ambition — to bridge regions, accelerate reform, and shape the narrative around sustainable development beyond oil.
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