Bahrain is set to host an annual conference of international public administration and management leaders in 2013.

It beat off the challenge of South Africa to land the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) Annual Conference.

Bahrain's bid gained a majority of over 400 association members' votes at a recent conference in Rome last month, said officials.

The conference will be organised by the Bahrain Institute for Public Administration (Bipa) and is expected to take place between June and July of 2013.

Among topics up for discussion are, public-private partnerships, public sector reforms, local government and development, public sector finance, leadership, governance and public policy and energy and the environment.

Bipa director-general Dr Raed Mohammed bin Shams said that Bahrain would demonstrate its success for organising such events.

The institute was established in 2006 with the aim of developing public administration and training in ministries and other government institutions as well as contributing to qualifying and training staff.

The IASIA was set up 1971 in Rome as a non-profit organisation that focuses on public administration and management.

It is now represented by 170 official administrative bodies in 76 countries. – TradeArabia News Service