HRH Premier chairs Cabinet session

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, at Gudaibiya Palace today.

HRH Premier requested service ministers to submit reports on the implementation of the needs of the citizens of the regions which they have visited upon his directives, stressing the importance of meeting the service needs of the citizens across towns and villages as soon as possible.
The Premier’s directives reflect his keenness on meeting the needs of the citizens across Bahrain, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said.
HRH Premier gave directives to look into the complaints of Buri citizens concerning some practices that are harmful to agricultural lands there, and tasked the competent authorities to intensify inspection campaigns and to take the necessary monitoring and legal procedures to put an end to those practices.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to pay more attention to livestock, protect them from epidemics and diseases and provide laboratories to conduct the necessary tests.
He also gave instructions to follow up on the remarks and complaints of breeders and cattle traders through the interaction and communication of the competent authorities with them.
In a related context, HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry to tighten procedures to control the prices and import of foodstuffs, as well as to prevent their monopoly and the violation of the competition rules through storing some goods and refraining from selling them to the public.
The Cabinet highlighted the importance of the forthcoming Jewellery Arabia 2017, to be held under HRH Premier’s patronage, in boosting trade and the national economy.
In this regard, HRH Premier was updated about the progress of the Exhibition City Project, and gave directives to expedite its implementation.
The Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister briefed the session about the on-going preparations to host Jewellery Arabia 2017.
Regarding the Expo City Project, he said that its detailed maps, prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, are nearing completion, adding that construction of the project will be put out to tender before the end of the first quarter of 2018.
Concerning International Children’s Day 2017, celebrated all over the world today, the session congratulated the children in Bahrain, in particular, and in the world, in general, considering them the assets of the future, and affirming the government’s efforts to ensure them all their rights, create a secure environment for them, provide them with social welfare and passing laws that achieve their interests and preserve their rights.
The Cabinet welcomed the resolutions of the meeting of the Arab League’s extraordinary session held in Cairo on Iran’s interference and threats to the region.
The session condemned Iran’s interference in Arab countries’ internal affairs, as well as its support for terrorism, stressing that putting an end to such meddling by Tehran has become an urgent necessity to rid the region of violence, sectarianism, instability and attempts to subvert security.
While commenting on a report by the Foreign Affairs Minister on the outcomes, the Cabinet lauded the initiative of Saudi Arabia to call for the meeting, noting that the move is within a series of Saudi-led initiatives to enhance solidarity among Arab countries and strengthen their ability to counter dangers and threats.
While reviewing the agenda, the session approved a memorandum presented by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince.
The memorandum aims to promote growth in commercial activities, encourage the flow of investments and stimulate various value-added projects by continuing the development of the Commercial Registration Portal (SIJILAT) through further facilitation and coordination with regard to licenses and requirements required by various stakeholders.
In this regard, the Cabinet called on all parties coordinate with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism in advance should they need to review the requirements for licensing business in the "Sijilat" system.
The session followed up on the engineering, technical and executive steps taken so far, upon HRH Premier’s directives, to transfer the pane fuel tanks from their current site in Arad to Bahrain International Airport.
According to the Minister of Oil and the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, the steps included the establishment of the Jet Fuel Company (BJFCo), a joint venture between nogaholding and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC). BJFCo, they added, is in charge of transporting jet fuel within the airport, as well as of the operation and maintenance of the new tanks.
The Cabinet also took note of the completion of the necessary foundations for the fuel tanks and was informed that the construction of the tanks will be completed in March 2019 and the Fuel Network in July 2020.
The session endorsed the renewal of the agreement between Bahrain and United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) regarding the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) for two additional years.
The Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs was requested to take the necessary legal and constitutional procedures to approve the agreement, which was highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Cabinet Affairs Minister.
The Cabinet referred to the same committee a memorandum of understanding on renewable energy between Bahrain and India, as outlined in the memorandum submitted by the Oil and Water Affairs Minister.
The session endorsed four proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives on events and programmes that support the tourism sector, the expansion of the main roads, service sectors’ inspectors and the sale of meat in stores and restaurants.
The government’s replies to the proposals were referred to the Council of Representatives.
On ministerial reports, the Cabinet took note of the outcomes of the second EU-Arab World Summit in which Advisor to HRH Premier, HH Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, participated on behalf of HRH Premier, as highlighted in a report submitted by the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister.
The Cabinet was also informed, through a report by the Transportation and Telecommunications Minister, about the kingdom’s top ranking in the Arab world and 31st internationally in the ICT Development Index issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The session welcomed the exploit, noting that it reflects the success of the government’s policies to enhance ICT and to develop its infrastructure.
The Cabinet also took note of the results of the 37th session of the Council of Arab Social Affairs ministers through the report submitted by the Labour and Social Development Minister.

Source: BNA