Cabinet welcomes Saudi Crown Prince's visit

Manama, Nov. 26 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. Cabinet welcomes Saudi Crown Prince’s visit The cabinet welcomed the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, stressing the importance of visit which reflects the distinguished deep-rooted solid relations between the two brotherly countries and their peoples. The session said that the visit is within the framework of two kingdom’s keenness to cooperate and coordinate vis-à-vis various issues and topics of common interest, lauding the "pivotal" role played by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and his Crown Prince. It also expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s supportive stances towards Bahrain in various fields, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said. Premier orders half workday on National Sports Day HRH the Prime Minister issued an order stipulating that Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in which the National Sports Day will be celebrated, will be a half-work day to pave the way for government employees to take part in athletic events from 11:00 am to 02:00 pm. HRH Premier gave directives to all ministries and government departments to hold sports activities on that day. Jewellery Arabia 2018 hailed The session highlighted the importance of the Jewellery Arabia2018, which was opened by HRH the Prime Minister recently, describing it as one of the most important economic, commercial and tourism activities that plays a key role in enhancing the Kingdom's role in the gold and jewelery sector. The cabinet stressed that the volume of sales, the wide international participation and the growing number of visitors reflect the success of the events hosted by Bahrain. In this regard, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism presented a report that included statistics about Jewellery Arabia 2018. The report showed an increase in the total number of exhibited items by 42%, as well as in the sales by 20% and the number of visitors by 9%. Premier thanks people for high voter turnout HRH the Prime Minister extended thanks and appreciation to the Bahraini people for their effective participation in the parliamentary and municipal elections, stressing that the high voter turnout testifies to the citizens’ honourable stance through assuming their patriotic responsibilities to serve the nation, which, he said, is a source of pride. HRH Premier highlighted the government’s keenness to extend and strengthen bridges of cooperation with the next Council of Representatives, as it has always done, in order to consolidate Executive-Legislature partnership for the best interests of the nation and the people. The Prime Minister commended the efforts exerted by the Interior Ministry and its various departments to streamline the electoral process, paying similar tribute to the High Committee to Oversee the Integrity of the Elections, led by Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, for overseeing the polls, and the Information Affairs Ministry for highlighting the event in its various outlets. Cabinet approves draft decree-laws The cabinet approved, based on a recommendation by the Executive Committee, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, a number of draft decree-laws, and decided to take the necessary constitutional and legal procedures to implement them. National projects’ implementation rates exceed 90% The cabinet hailed the high implementation rates of the national projects included in the Government Action Plan 2015-2018, which exceeded 90 per cent. A presentation by the Cabinet Affairs Minister on the progress of the implementation of the main themes of the Government Action Plan 2015-2018, revealed that a total 321 projects, related to the basic services provided to citizens in the housing, educational, health and youth sectors, as well as in infrastructure, such as roads, had been fully implemented by 35 ministries and government departments, and that the remaining ones will be completed soon. The report showed that the government had succeeded in honouring its pledges in the various themes and priorities. In housing, the government pledged to build 25,000 units, and has already distributed 17,639 units, the minister said, adding that 3,095 housing units are being built and 5,043 ones are being prepared so as to be handed over to beneficiaries soon. Regarding education, the government has completed the construction of six schools, and three others are being built. As far as health is concerned, the government has built three health centres and six specialised health centres, the minister said, noting that two hospital are being constructed. Concerning youth, the government has already inaugurated two model youth centres, and is preparing other youth facilities. Government succeeds in attracting more investments The report also highlighted the government’s success in attracting investments in development projects in government holding companies and private sector investments in urban development, as well as in stimulating tourism and industry in Bahrain and attracting investments to them. In the development projects, government investments reached US $ 10 billion, while the private sector’s investments reached US $ 15 billion, most of which in the construction and investment development projects. Meanwhile, the investments of the Gulf Development Fund amounted to US $ 7.5 billion, along with about US $ 2.3 billion in foreign investments, whose volume has increased 10 times between 2015 and 2018. DERASAT report on human development reviewed The cabinet reviewed the 2018 National Human Development Report prepared by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report, presented by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, highlighted the achievements of the Kingdom, and included recommendations on human development. Bahrain’s renewable energy plans on right track The Council of Ministers reviewed the latest developments and achievements within efforts to implement the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). A presentation given by the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs revealed that 52% of the plan had already been implemented with regards to increasing the use of renewable energy by 5% in 2025 and by 10% in 2035. 50% of NREAP’s target to raise the energy efficiency by 6% in 2025, has also been achieved, the minister said. The session commended the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs and the National Committee to follow up on the implementation of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan and the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). Four real estates to be acquired The session approved the acquisition of four properties to expand and connect roads and maintain the roads’ status in Jidhafs, Jid Ali and Hidd, and tasked the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to issue the necessary acquisition edicts. Two bills referred to Representatives Council The cabinet reviewed two draft-laws proposed by the Council of Representatives, the first on amending Article (2) of Decree-Law 25/2015 on levying of infrastructure development and construction costs in urban areas, and the second on amending Article (4) of Law 57/2006 on the establishment of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). The bills were referred to the Council of Representatives, along with memoranda on the government’s opinion on each of them.