Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) is hosting the 29th International Conference of Public Administration in Bahrain in collaboration with the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) and the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Public Administration (IASIA), the two largest organizations specializing in administrative sciences in the world.

The conference, which kicked off in Manama on Saturday will run till June 6. The first day saw legal meetings of the IIAS and the IASIA.

The first workshop in the conference, chaired by Dr Raed Mohammed bin Shams, the BIPA director general, was held in the presence of senior officials at the institute and participants from all the schools and institutes of public administration across the world.

Bin Shams introduced the new initiative of the institute which consists in the establishment of a Middle East research group in the field of public administration (MEPAR), with the aim of enriching the concept of public administration in the Middle East.

The participants lauded this initiative and congratulated Bahrain for creating this group, stressing the importance of highlighting the research area in public administration in the Mideast region.

Dr Ban Suk Kim, the IIAS head and Dr Michelle Ferris, head of IASIA praised the initiative and wished it great success.

When introducing the initiative, Dr Bin Shams revealed that Middle East Public Administration Research (Mepar) is a network of organizations active in the field of thought and practice of public administration in the Middle East.

At the workshop, Dr Bin Shams said Mepar aimed at developing research in the areas of public administration, public policy and good governance in the region, as well as taking part in and enriching intellectual debates on public policy and administration in the region.

"It will serve as a regional forum for the exchange of ideas between actors in the field of public administration and public policy and will establish a network of governmental and non-governmental institutions of public administration, create an intellectual link in the region through the supply of all institutes and schools of public administration in the world with local research and the expansion of regional participation in the international activities and events, he added.

During the workshop, BIPA gave an account on the most enriching ideas for public administration in the Middle East, including first-hand results such concept work papers and experimental case studies in addition to global forums that attract thinkers and put forth the best practices in public administration and governance.

BIPA aims to develop the public administration and training in the ministries and governmental organizations, and contribute to the preparation and training of personnel, in accordance with the training needs and development programs, research and advisory work approved by the board of directors of the institute.-TradeArabia News Service