( CNN ) -- This week MME speaks to the man charged with boosting growth in the Kingdom of Bahrain : Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa . Sheikh Mohammed is concerned the nuclear dispute with Iran is deterring potential investors . As chief executive of the Economic Development Board , one of Sheikh Mohammed 's main tasks is to ensure Bahrain stays ahead of its competitors . The government 's pushing ahead with economic reforms to reduce the Kingdom 's dependence on oil . But with crude prices near $ 100 a barrel , John Defterios asked whether the appetite for change had diminished . SM : The reforms are being done for aspirational reasons rather than necessity , so we are trying to enter the post-oil area because we want to . And therefore , because of this aspirational aspect , trying to get to as opposed to people pushing us somewhere we do n't want to go . JD : How do you redefine Bahrain 's role ? Traditionally it 's been a financial center , but you have Qatar , Saudi Arabia , Dubai even Abu Dhabi emerging in financial services . How you redefine it to sustain a lead ? SM : The rising tide lifts a lot of places and as the region is booming and growing , financial services are growing throughout the region . Bahrain 's strengths have been and will continue to be its human capital , the people that have led the financial sector and the long standing regulations that have been established in Bahrain . JD : Strategically and a geopolitical question here : the Crown Prince came out and declared what Iran 's intentions really are -- in his view -- for a nuclear policy , and called for greater diplomacy right ahead of a visit by the President of Iran to the country . What 's the motivation here ? SM : We feel that the distraction caused by the Iranian nuclear issue is holding investment back in the region as a whole , and increasing the security threat of the region . Nobody is debating the right to peaceful nuclear power , but we all have that need and we all need a peaceful resolution to this . JD : Historically , Iran has even made claims against Bahrain , what do you do now moving forward now ? Do you bring Russia , China , the United States and the European Union closer together , in terms of where we should be going in the future ? SM : We 've resolved our historical issue with Iran , and we are well beyond that , but going forward ... This is such a important issue affecting security worldwide , that we feel it is important and at a level high enough that we need all powers involved because it does affect everybody . JD : Can the GCC ( Gulf Cooperation Council ) become much tighter as an organization to have a voice in that process ; as opposed to speaking from the sidelines and hoping that the major powers move forward ? SM : Absolutely , I mean , the GCC is speaking with a unified voice . The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came out with a proposal for providing nuclear fuel from an independent authority ; this was completely backed from the GCC . We are all moving forward and are willing to play a beneficial role to resolve this issue . Meet the Sheikh : . Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa is chief executive of the Economic Development Board , the organization responsible for stimulating and supporting growth of the Bahraini economy . He was appointed in June 2005 , following 10 years working directly for His Highness Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , Crown Prince , Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force and Chairman of the Economic Development Board . From 1995 to 1999 , he was director of the Crown Prince 's office . In 1999 , he was appointed head of the court and also deputy head of the Crown Prince 's International Scholarship Program . During this time , Sheikh Mohammed was heavily involved with the Crown Prince 's initiatives to liberalize the telecommunications sector and with labor market and economic reforms . A keen motor sports enthusiast , Sheikh Mohammed was deputy board chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit and is a former vice president of the Bahrain Motor Club , now known as the Bahrain Motor Federation . Sheikh Mohammed , who is married with two sons and one daughter , was born on April 14 , 1969 . In 1992 , he received a bachelor 's degree in economic theory from the American University , Washington DC . Two years later , he received a post-graduate diploma in business studies from the London School of Economics . ( source : Bahrain Economic Development Board ) E-mail to a friend .
Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa steers Bahrain 's economic growth . The government has been criticized for its handling of the protests and human rights abuses in recent months, but it is also seen as a key ally to neighboring Saudi Arabia. Calls on world to unite to resolve nuclear dispute with Iran .