Manama: TRENDS Research and Advisory has underscored the role of think tanks in advancing sustainable development agendas during its participation in the Seventh Annual Forum of the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat), held in Manama, Bahrain.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum was organised in partnership with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, under the theme "The Arab Research Centres Consortium for Sustainability and Development". It was attended by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of Derasat's Board of Trustees; as well as heads of think tanks, senior officials, and Arab experts.
During the first session, titled "Arab Think Tanks and Sustainable Development: From Knowledge to Impact", Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, highlighted the strategic importance of think tanks in supporting sustainability agendas. He shared the centre's experience in translating research into practical outcomes, noting that think tanks have evolved from analysing challenges and offering recommendations to anticipating future trends and shaping strategies.
Dr. Al-Ali emphasised the need for decision-makers to receive clear, concise messages in accessible language, and highlighted the importance of building trust with government and non-government stakeholders to achieve measurable impact. He discussed the interconnected nature of sustainability, stressing the need for integrated solutions and flexible policies that respond to global change.
The CEO also stressed the importance of leveraging advances in technology, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy. He noted that progress depends on contributing to their development, not merely adopting them. Reflecting on TRENDS' work, he described how the centre has supported sustainable development through research aligned with sustainability-focused policymaking over more than a decade.
TRENDS' contributions to international sustainability-related events, its role in building partnerships for expertise exchange, and its advisory studies supporting institutions in designing and implementing development plans were also highlighted. Dr. Al-Ali noted the launch of platforms to expand public awareness of sustainability issues, including the TRENDS Knowledge platform, an AI-focused platform, and a research programme examining artificial intelligence's role in development.
At the forum, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa honoured TRENDS Research and Advisory for its role in harnessing knowledge and scientific research to advance sustainable development efforts.