HRH Premier chairs Cabinet session

Manama, Jan. 28 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. Amendments to GAP endorsed The Cabinet endorsed, following the directive of HRH the Prime Minister, all the amendments to the Government Action Plan (GAP). The amendments, presented by Deputy Premier, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, were the outcome of the consensus reached by the government’s team and the parliamentary GAP committee. Premier keen to enhance government-parliament cooperation HRH Premier lauded the "constructive" cooperation of the Council of Representatives, represented by the parliamentary GAP committee, and extended thanks to the government’s team to the joint GAP meetings. The Prime Minister stressed that the Executive-Legislature consensus on GAP reflects the two branches’ sense of patriotism and responsible awareness of the challenges and requirements of the current phase, reiterating keenness to continue extending bridges of government-parliament cooperation in order to optimise the national gains and implement GAP to serve the citizens, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said. Premier orders work plan to support small traders HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to devise, in cooperation with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), a work plan to support small traders. HRH Premier stressed that the action plan should be implemented in accordance with a well-thought-out time frame and goals based on the needs and visions of the beneficiaries. Inspection campaigns on markets to be intensified HRH the Prime Minister gave instructions to intensify the inspection campaigns on markets and commercial outlets, stressing the importance of continuing to follow up on the prices of commodities and consumer goods and to ensure that there is no manipulation or illegal commercial practices that affect the consumers. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry was requested to submit a report on the inspection campaigns. Directives to employ university graduates HRH Premier gave directives to develop an action plan to expedite the employment of jobless university graduates, and to rehabilitate and integrate those speicalised in academic disciplines that do not match the requirements of the local labour market. The Premier’s directives are in line with the government’s keenness to pave the way for such category of graduates to contribute to the nation-building process, on the hand, and to keep the unemployment rate at secure natural levels, on the other. The Labour and Social Development Ministry was requested to prepare the action plan ordered by HRH Premier, in cooperation with the competent authorities, and to submit it to the cabinet. 130,000 housing services delivered by government HRH the Prime Ministers gave directives to preserve the social fabric at the new towns and housing projects as much as possible, and to take that into consideration while distributing the units to beneficiaries, stressing the need to give priority to the residents of the regions that are near to the housing project without prejudice to the seniority factor. The Premier made the comments while reviewing the government’s achievements in the field of housing. Statistics showed that the government had delivered about 130,000 housing services since the establishment of the Ministry of Housing. Sustainable Energy Centre to be established The cabinet approved, based on a recommendation by the Civil Service Council, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to establish a Sustainable Energy Centre. The session endorsed a drat-decree on establishing the Sustainable Energy Centre, which will be in charge of delivering technical support for the concerned sides regarding the preservation of the sustainable energy resources and increasing their efficient use. Youth Ministry to be re-structured The cabinet approved, based on a recommendation by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, to re-structure the Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry through reducing the number of assistant undersecretaries and directorates. The move is in line with the government’s policies to reduce administrative posts and supportive administrative units. Situation of women staff at kindergartens discussed The session discussed a proposal prepared by the Supreme Council for Women to improve the situation of the women staff at kindergartens and nurseries. In this regard, HRH Premier gave directives to enhance the conditions of the women workers in the nurseries and kindergartens sector. Meanwhile, the session referred to the Ministerial Committee for Social Affairs, Communications, Media and Youth, led by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, a joint memorandum submitted by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour and Social Development in this regard. The memorandum will also be referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial, Economic and Fiscal Balance Affairs, led by Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, to examine its financial aspects. Chemical weapons committee’s report referred to ministerial committee The cabinet referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, led by Deputy Premier, Jawad bin Salem Al-Arayed, the annual report prepared by the National Committee on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Development, Production, Use and Stockpiling and their Destruction, and presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The report highlights the committee’s work, activities and programmes, as well as its cooperation with international organisations which resulted in the signing of the First Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2018–2023 between the Government of Bahrain and the International Atomic Energy Agency. FedEx licensed The cabinet approved the licensing of the Federal Express International (FedEx), to carry out the activities of transport agencies, air freight and private courier companies, in line with the provisions of article 345 (c) of the Commercial Companies Law, promulgated by Law 21/2001. The cabinet took the decision after reviewing a memorandum presented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in this regard.