The path toward the 2030 Agenda: the implementation status of sustainable development goals in the large industrial sector of Bahrain

The 2030 Agenda is ushering in a new era of sustainability. However, adopting the SDGs in the industrial sector face difficulty because its various activities and the novelty of SDGs. This study aimed to investigate the sustainability status in the entire large industrial sector (170 companies) by identifying the challenges hampering SDGs implementation, the high-priority goals, and if the SDGs represent an opportunity, what actions will increase the SDGs implementation. Therefore, the structured interview method was employed to attain the study objectives from May to December 2020. The results showed that the industrial sector has several initiatives, sustainable future projects, and sustainable practices, which are the basis for sustainability governance, so there is a need to orient these efforts in the context of SDGs and integrate them into their business plans and strategies. Also, this study revealed; presently, Bahrain's industrial sector is facing challenges to adopt the SDGs, such as a lack of expertise, and knowledge. Furthermore, study results indicate that the most priority SDGs for the industrial sector are 12, 13, 9, 7, and 8, and Bahrain faces major challenges in achieving SDGs 9, 11, 12, and 15. The study has made some recommendations to improve SDGs implementation.