HRH Premier chairs cabinet session

Manama, Nov. 7 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has called for hosting and organising more events that highlight the kingdom's investment opportunities and consolidate its status as a safe incubator for investments. Chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session at Gudaibiya Palace today, HRH the Prime Minister stressed the importance of availing of the conferences, forums and exhibitions to strengthen the kingdom's standing on the world's investment map, and boost its economic and trade cooperation with other countries at the regional and international levels. The Prime Minister lauded the "Invest in Bahrain" Forum and Exhibition (Invest in Bahrain 2016), held under his patronage, and the Turkey-GCC Business Forum, held under his auspices, and opened by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, on his behalf, a post session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser, said. HRH Premier then tackled the problem of bachelor accommodation in residential neighbouhoods, and issued directives to conduct a study on setting up high quality accommodation camps for expatriate workers, especially bachelors, in many regions, stressing that they should be integrated in terms of services, including the commercial and recreational ones, and meet all international health, security and safety standards. The Premier tasked the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure to seek the opinion of whoever it deems suitable to examine the necessary steps to remove expatriate workers to alternative areas, directing to revamp the labour accommodations within residential neighbourhoods, especially those in old areas, and turn them into service and commercial facilities that benefit the citizens and residents there after the relocation of expatriate bachelor workers. HRH the Prime Minister issued instructions to meet the citizens' housing needs through the implementation of projects that serve various villages, including the Hillat Al Abd Al Salah village and neighbouring villages. The Prime Minister was also informed about the progress of Al-Ramli Housing Project and instructed the Housing Ministry to expedite its implementation process. HRH Premier then issued directives to take the fishermen's interests and the requirements of wildlife conservation into account while determining the shrimping areas, urging to tighten control over fishing using trawl nets. The Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure was requested to coordinate with the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning regarding the matter. HRH Premier directed to expeditiously determine the conditions, rules and criteria that define the state of disability that requires granting paid daily two-hour pause for workers with disability or those with first-degree relatives with special needs on their guardianship, as stipulated by the Law on the Welfare, Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. The decision aims to pave the way for the issuance of an edict by the relevant minister to activate it. The relevant ministerial committee was requested to take the necessary procedures. The cabinet then reviewed the memoranda on its agenda. In this regard, HRH the Prime Minister directed to continue developing the public road network to reduce traffic congestion, instructing to begin work in the second phase of the project to expand the Crown Prince Avenue in Riffa from the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman to the Riffa Roundabout by making it three lanes. The Prime Minister also directed to set up a new entrance to Buri village from the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, revamp some roads in Riffa, expand the Muharraq ring road extending from Al-Hidd entrance to the Galali intersection, as well as pave dirt roads of Eker village. In this context, the session was informed by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister, on the projects that have been tendered and awarded so far in 2016 to implement the projects included in the Government Action Plan. According to the report submitted by the minister, 119 projects, worth BD 280 million, have been put out to tender or awarded, 64 projects, worth BD 218 million, have been put out to tender, while 55, worth BD 52 million, have awarded, he said. The session was also informed by the Tender Board about the tenders awarded during the third quarter of 2016. The Cabinet referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs a memorandum of understanding signed between the University of Bahrain and the South Korean Embassy, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Minister of Education, and a draft edict on the issuance of Statute of the centres and youth organisations that are subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, as outlined in the memorandum presented by the Youth and Sports Affairs Minister. The session discussed a draft law on cancelling Article (353) of the Penal Code, proposed by the Council of Representatives. The bill was referred back to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study based on the panel's recommendation presented by the Deputy Premier and chairman of the committee. The Cabinet discussed four proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and approved the government’s replies, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The proposals were related to conducting a thorough study on the Civil Defence Directorate's centres, approving housing installments, allocating units for people with disabilities at housing projects and the Sanabis Primary School for Girls.