Cabinet congratulates HM King, praises Premier's Saudi visit

Manama, Nov. 28 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has extended deepest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Award conferred on him in recognition of the crucial role he has played in ensuring the success of the Bahraini model for entrepreneurship and women's economic empowerment at the international level. Such a well-deserved global honouring granted to HM the King is a tribute for the King's milestone development achievements in the fields of entrepreneurship and the empowerment of women and youth regionally and internationally, the Premier said. Chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace today, HRH the Prime Minister briefed the session about the results of his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the solid fraternal bilateral relations, ways to bolster joint cooperation, as well as on the latest regional and global developments and ways to deal with them in order to strengthen security and stability across the region. HRH the Prime Minister lauded the gracious welcome and hospitality accorded to him by King Salman during his successful visit to Riyadh, expressing the two countries' shared desire to steadily develop their relations in various field, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser, said. HRH Premier followed up on the work progress in housing projects, and reviewed the efforts being exerted to meet applications on the waiting lists, as well as the endeavours to distribute housing units across the kingdom fairly. In this regard, HRH the Prime Minister issued orders to meet all housing applications submitted before 2003 before the end of 2016. He also directed the Housing Ministry to increase the share of A'ali villagers from the Al-Ramli Housing Project, and increase the share of Damistan villagers from Al-Lawzi Housing Project. Tackling other development issues, HRH Premier directed to pay more attention to agriculture, develop agricultural policies, boost food industries, market and promote Bahraini agricultural products and crops, especially dates, to raise the added value of those products and crops, reduce wastage and encourage investment in agriculture and manufacturing industries that are based on agricultural products. The Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure was requested to conduct a study on the matter. Referring to the Bahraini Women's Day 2016, the session lauded the milestone achievements attained by Bahraini women, politically, economically and socially. It also hailed the contributions of Bahraini women to serving their society and nation, praising the commendable role played by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in empowering Bahraini women and supporting them in assuming their role, as well as in integrating their efforts in the kingdom's development programmes. HRH Premier instructed the Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning to determine the reasons that led to the pooling of rain water in some areas of the country recently, and to take measures that would prevent its recurrence in the future. The ministry was also requested to step up its readiness to deal with any rain water pools promptly. HRH the Prime Minister called for the need to develop the Middle East International Jewellery & Watch Exhibition (Jewellery Arabia) in terms of preparation and organisation, commensurate with the leadership's support to the event and the wide participation in it ever since it was incepted 25 years ago. The Premier stressed that relevant bodies should prepare well for the event, given its commercial and tourism importance, to boost the exhibitions and conference industry in the kingdom and enhance Bahrain's international status in this regard. HRH Premier informed the Cabinet about his remarks related to Jewellery Arabia 2016, which was held recently under his patronage. Reviewing memorandum on its agenda, the Cabinet approved a draft law on ratifying the agreement on establishing the Bahraini-Russian Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-technical Cooperation. The constitutional and legal procedures will be taken to refer the agreement, highlighted in the memorandum submitted by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, to the Legislative Branch. The session also endorsed a plan to re-structure the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA). The memorandum, presented by the Deputy Premier and Deputy Chairman of the Civil Service Council, stipulates that the posts of Director-General of Antiquities and Director-General of Culture, with three directorates for each, will be created. It also stipulates that the post of Assistant Undersecretary of Culture and National Heritage will be cancelled. The session approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the panel, regarding adjusting the fees levied in accordance with Law 51/2014 with respect to the Regulation of the Practice of Engineering Professions. The Cabinet reviewed the comprehensive database of 143 boards of trustees and directors of public companies and institutions, and specialised committees. The memorandum, presented by the Cabinet Affairs Minister, included the procedures taken to ensure that the 1355-member boards and committees rectify their situation in accordance with the legal tools establishing them within the preset time frame, as well as the procedures taken to link them electronically with the relevant authorities to follow up on the completion of the duties for which they have been established. The session also endorsed a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on removing the wooden classrooms (cabins) at the Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Boys' School and the Al-Budaya Primary Boys' School and replace them with academic buildings. The classrooms will be included in the projects of the Education Ministry.