HRH Premier chairs Cabinet session

Manama, Jan. 21 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace today.     HRH Premier extends thanks to HM the King, HRH Crown Prince   HRH the Prime Minister extended deepest thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his constant interest and care during the successful medical check-ups he had undergone recently, and paid similar tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for his constant keenness to follow up on his health conditions, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Naser, said.   Premier pays tribute to citizens   HRH Premier also extended sincere thanks and gratitude to the Bahraini people for the feelings of love they had expressed through newspaper and street advertisements, cables, media outlets and social media networks, as well as they festivities that they had held to showcase their joy over the Prime Minister’s leaving the hospital in good health after undergoing successful medical check-ups.   HRH Premier stressed that the noble sincere feelings expressed by the citizens, residents and popular and official functions embody the prevailing values in Bahrain and the existing distinguished relations between the leaders and the people.   The Prime Minister extended similar thanks to brotherly countries’ leaders and senior officials for their keenness to get re-assured about his health and congratulating him on his recovery.   Deputy Premier, HH Shaikhh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, expressed the ministers’ pleasure over the Prime Minister’s chairmanship of the Cabinet session after his recovery, praying to Allah the Almighty to bless HRH Premier with abundant health so as to continue the nation-building and progress march for the best interests of the nation and the citizens.     Government’s keenness to provide quality education for all affirmed   HRH the Prime Minister affirmed, marking the International Day of Education, the government’s keenness to provide comprehensive quality education for everyone, hailing the kingdom’s honourable achievements during the 100-year old education march, and praising the contributions of the educational sector to the nation’s sustainable development.     Orders to empower small merchants   HRH Premier gave directives to support and empower small Bahraini merchants, and ordered the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to cooperate with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to identify and meet the needs of small traders and remove the obstacles facing them.   Pemier hails positive GAP meetings   The Prime Minister was informed about the progress of the meetings of the government’s team with the parliamentary Government Action Plan (GAP) Committee, and lauded the patriotic and responsible sense that prevailed during such meetings, citing the consensus reached by the teams of the government and the Council of Representatives on most GAP items.   The Premier underlined the government’s keenness to maintain the ‘constructive’ Executive-Legislature  cooperation and their positive joint action, extending thanks to the government’s delegation to the joint GAP meetings, led by Deputy Premier, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.   Government’s housing achievements reviewed   The cabinet reviewed the government’s housing achievments, the most important of which is the implementation of five housing towns at the same time during 2015-2018, in addition to dozens of housing projects, costing about BD 1.5 billion.   The government managed to build 25,000 housing units emanating from the Royal Order to build 40,000 units, and granted more than 4,500 building and purchase loans. It has allocated BD 87 million to support 11,000 beneficiaries of the ‘Mazaya’ programme, and provided 2,450 housing units through affordable social housing in parnership with the private sector.   The government has provided, until December 2018, 3,500 housing units through the ‘Mazaya’ programme and about 4,500 ones through dealing with the private sector, thus bringing the total contribution of the private sector to about 8000 housing units.     Premier directs to ensure sustainable housing services   While reviewing a memorandum submitted by the Housing Minister on the housing isssue, HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to continue developing housing policies to ensure the sustainability of housing services, and reduce waiting lists in light of the increasing demand for housing due to population growth, limited geographical area and high land costs.   The Housing Minister’s memorandum was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects.   HRH Premier also gave instructions to ensure that all new towns and and housing projects shoud be provided with integrated services, particularly security, civil defence, health and education, in addition to the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the citizens’ access to them.     119 tenders awarded in 2018   The session reviewed the tenders launched in 2018 within the Government Action Plan for the budget cycle of 2017-2018.   Figures showed that a total of 119 tenders for projects, worth BD 278 million, had been awarded in three sectors, namely roads, sewage and buildings.   They also showed that in 2018, 123 tenders had been launched at an estimated cost of BD 188 million, and that 21 tenders, costing BD 243 million, had been launched and awarded  under the Gulf Development Programme.   Progress of 84 projects reviewed   The cabinet reviewed the progress of 84 on-going roads, sewage and construction projects, mainly the ring road in Muharraq, the fourth bridge linking Busaitin and Bahrain Bay, Sanabis and Isa City, the revamp of Alba and Nuwaidrat junctions, and revamp of roads Halat Bu-Maher, Sanabis and Isa Town.   They also include the rehabilitation of the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway Bridge, the development of the treatment system at Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as the operation and maintenance of sewage network stations, the long-term care centre, the Comprehensive Disability Complex in A'Ali, among others.   Draft-law on Bahrain-UAE transport agreement approved   The session approved a draft law to ratify the Agreement on the international land transport of passengers and goods, signed between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates last October.   The agreement aims at strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the two brotherly countries, particularly regarding land transportation and facilitating the transport of passengers and goods between and between them and through them (transit).   The cabinet decided to take the necessary constitutional procedures to refer the draft-law to the Council of Representatives, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by Deputy Premier and the committee chairman, Jawad Salem Al Arrayed.   Draft-law on Bahrain-UAE air services endorsed   The session endorsed and referred to the Council of Representatives a draft-law to ratify a Bahrain-UAE Agreement on Air Services between and Beyond their Respective Territories.   The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport.     Draft-law on Bahrain-Saudi air services agreement approved   The cabinet approved a draft-law to ratify an air transport services agreement between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.   The Council decided to take the constitutional and legal procedures ahead of referring the agreement to the Council of Representatives.    The agreement aims to develop cooperation between the two countries in the field of air navigation system, as well as to increase opportunities in international air transport services.   Bahrain’s ratification of OIC Charter amendment discussed   The cabinet discussed the kingdom’s ratification of the amendment to the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding the periodicity of its summit meetings.   The memorandum, submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this regard, was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.     Bahrain’s ratification of OIC immunities, privileges agreement discussed     The session discussed the kingdom’s ratification of the Agreement on Immunities and privileges for the Organisation of The Islamic Conference.   The memorandum, also submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this regard, was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.