Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board, emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships with UN entities and international organisations to achieve sustainable development. This was highlighted during bilateral meetings held, on the sidelines of participating in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2024) on Sustainable Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In a meeting held with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Minister reaffirmed Bahrain's strong support for ITU's work, that has been demonstrated by its active membership in the ITU's council and its commitment to advancing the telecommunications and technology sector as a priority economic sector. During the meeting, the Minister discussed the transformative role of digital transformation, data, information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives, in accelerating the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Additionally, the Minister met with Mary Beth Goodman, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). During the meeting, the Minister commended OECD's ongoing efforts and initiatives in supporting sustainable development and digital transformation. The Minister also discussed the key role of digitisation, data, and financial inclusion in accelerating progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals, and highlighted the prominent role and outstanding contributions of Bahraini women in this field. Source: Bahrain News Agency