By Hammad Al-Mutairi
MANAMA, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- Bahrain is set to celebrate its 47th National Day on Sunday, as the country gained independence from Britain in 1971.
With accessories decorating the streets of the capital Manama Bahrain will also celebrate the 19th anniversary of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's assumption of power.
The country saw prominent political development in the era of King Hamad, who brought back the Bahraini National Assembly.
After independence, Bahrain had witnessed rapid architectural developments, transforming from a state with minimum resources to a country considered as a regional commercial and financial hub.
On the political level, the ascension of King Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa in 1999 had led to many political, constitutional, and parliamentary reforms.
These included establishing the Shura Council, national parliamentary elections, allowing media freedom and issuing newspapers.
In 2000, the National Action Charter of Bahrain was established, aiming to determine the country's politics. About 98 percent of Bahrainis voted on their approval of the upcoming political scene.
Later on, during the first anniversary of the charter, King Hamad announced Bahrain as a constitutional monarchy, thus becoming the fourth Arab kingdom after Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco.
Last year, Bahraini parliamentary and municipality elections witnessed a new record in women partaking in the elections as the number reached 47 candidates. The participation reached 67 percent, which is the highest in the Kingdom's history.
Meanwhile, Bahrain saw rapid development mainly in the buildings sector, where it turned from an agricultural country with limited sources to a prominent trade and finance center that attracts foreign investments.
The Kingdom also depended on being a center for Islamic banks to develop its economic sector, attracting over 400 banks and monetary organizations.
One of the most prominent economic projects was establishing King Fahd Causeway in 1986, connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia and allowing an easier trade exchange between the two sides.
About 35,000 cars enter the kingdom through the bridge weekly, while the number increases during holidays, boosting Bahrain's economy further.
Moreover, Bahrain is also one of the top producers of aluminum in the Middle East region, with its company Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) producing over 500,000 thousand metric tons per year.
As for the security sector, the country was able to overcome political tension that claimed the lives of civilians and security members in 2011. King Hamad announced December 17th as a day to remember Bahrain's martyrs who fell during the 2011 events and those who were killed in the joint military operation in Yemen. (end) hmd.bb