The event was opened by a speech in which Mr. Abdul Rahman Jawahery, GPIC General Manager expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Chairman of the Public Authority for Protection of Marine Wealth, Environment and Wildlife HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa for its continuous support for the company's programmes and activities.
He also welcomed the visit of the British Ambassador to GPIC and his familiarisation with GPIC's environmental projects.
He praised the close relationships between the company and inhabitants of the neighbouring villages.
He added the students' participation and attendance of this event are tangible evidence of their keen interest in supporting the efforts made by the Company's management for environmental projects carried out by the company.
He also praised the steady and continuous efforts made by the Charity Fish Farm Committee Chairman and members to develop and to ensure the success of this environmental project.
Jawahery added the management is mainly concerned with the environment and complying with the international environmental laws enabling it to obtain the environmental certification 14001 in 1999, which was the first international environmental achievement given to a Bahraini company for its compliance with environmental regulations.
Meanwhile, this project has achieved its objectives since its establishment, as the fishes are grown in a suitable natural habitat and contribute to the growth of the country's fish stocks.
As part of its charitable efforts, GPIC distributes the farm's fish to the needy families.
As part of its national and social responsibilities, GPIC set up this project in November 1996 in co-operation with the Fisheries Directorate with a capacity of 10,000 fishes.
The objectives of the farm was to enrich the Bahrain fish stocks and to educate the community about industrial development that should not conflict with the safety of the environment.
Due to the tremendous success of this project, GPIC launched an expansion of the farm in 2001 to have a capacity for more than 30,000 fishes.
Meanwhile, the British Ambassador expressed his pleasure at the concern of the Company with the environment and praised the consistent efforts made by the management in launching other environmental programmes that would give an addition to the existing charity fish farm.
He considered this project as a means of supporting fisheries and a useful addition to the National Centre for Marine Farming and the release of live fish in the natural marine areas.
He praised the GPIC workers for their efforts to enhance fish stocks in Bahrain's territorial waters. He expressed the hope that other economic sectors would follow the example set by GPIC as one of the principal projects for developing fish stocks.