GAP Committee holds first meeting

Manama, Jan. 13(BNA): The Government Action Plan (GAP) Committee has today held its first meeting at the Council of Representatives. Speaker Fawziya bint Abdulla Zainal chaired the session which was attended by head of the Government’s delegation Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa. Second Deputy Speaker and (GAP) Committee chairman MP Ali Ahmed Zayed, ministers and lawmakers attended the session which focused on the pillars underpinning the 2019-2022 roadmap. The Speaker welcomed the Government’s delegation chairman and members, expressing the hope that the GAP discussion would be marked by the spirit of democracy, whose foundations were laid by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. She extended thanks to His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, hailing their keenness on referring the GAP to the Council of Representatives as per the constitution. Government’s delegation chairman Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa conveyed greetings from HRH the Premier and HRH the Crown Prince to the Speaker and lawmakers. He stressed the Government’s resolve to translate the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, embodied in the letter of assignment and keynote address during the Government’s oath-taking ceremony, in addition to the keynote royal address at the opening of the 1st session of the fifth legislative term, as well as HRH the Premier’s message regarding the GAP 2019-2022. He underlined current financial challenges, urging cooperation to continue strenuous work to achieve the royal objective which puts Bahraini citizens as the cornerstone of development and its ultimate aim. He stressed the significance of the GAP logo "Sustainable Economic and Social Security in the Framework of Fiscal Balance", which sets the national priorities for the legislative-executive partnership from the coming four years. Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa delivered a presentation, outlining details of the GAP (2019-2022) initiatives and targeted outcome in line with the Fiscal Balance Programme. He said that the GAP-2019-2022 roadmap builds on the strenuous efforts which were exerted by the Government since 2015 to restructure public finance, enhance services, consolidate spending governance, reduce expenditure and increase revenues towards attaining fiscal balance by 2022. The two sides agreed to convene another meeting on Wednesday (January 16) to continue discussed the GAP details.