HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister chairs weekly Cabinet meeting
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister today chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, held remotely.
Starting the meeting, the Cabinet lauded the Royal Directives mandating the relevant authorities within the Kingdom of Bahrain to compensate the Bahraini seafarers affected by the actions taken by the Qatari authorities against them.
The Cabinet emphasised the importance of restoring mutual fishing rights which have been observed by successive generations whereby the State of Qatar permits Bahrainis to fish to the Qatari-UAE border, in return for the Kingdom of Bahrain permitting Qataris to fish to Bahraini-Saudi border.
In line with the Council of Representatives’ position on this issue, which represents the perspective of the Kingdom’s citizens, the Cabinet highlighted the importance of direct bilateral negotiations with the State of Qatar to reach a lasting agreement on continuing to allow fishermen and seafarers of both countries to practice their activities in accordance with historical practices and in a way that benefits the citizens of both countries and enhances Gulf cooperation.
The Cabinet emphasised the importance of HM the King’s Royal address on the occasion of the Kingdom’s National Day celebrations and the anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne, marking the Kingdom’s continued development in line with the aspirations of Bahrain’s citizens.
In this regard, the Cabinet extended gratitude to the Kingdom’s citizens, residents, and the international community, on receiving their best wishes.
The Cabinet commended HM the King’s announcement of the National Vaccination Campaign, and its launch with HM the King’s receiving the vaccination.
In this context, the Cabinet extended congratulations to HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on HM the King’s Royal Order to create the ‘Prince Salman bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit’, which reflects Royal appreciation of HRH’s efforts and pride in the efforts of the Kingdom’s medical professionals.
The Cabinet welcomed the visit of the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, accompanied by the Crown Prince of Jordan, His Royal Highness Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II. In this regard, the Cabinet noted the strength of bilateral relations and the importance of further strengthening ties across various fields.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister then reiterated the importance of continuing to follow and observe all COVID-19 precautionary measures, adding that although infection rates are lower than previously, the virus is still present and poses a risk to the community, therefore complacency must be avoided in order to protect the community in the upcoming period.
In this context, the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments on the new strain of the COVID-19 virus. Available medical and scientific reports indicate that this strain responds to current vaccines, and the Cabinet reiterated the importance of closely monitoring developments related to this new strain and take necessary measures.
The Cabinet praised the public response of those registering to be vaccinated, which has already reached more than twelve thousand individuals. In this regard, the Cabinet urged the public to continue to register for the vaccination, to protect oneself and the community, and to ensure the success of the Kingdom’s national comprehensive COVID-19 response.
The Cabinet welcomed the United States of America’s decision to designate “Saraya Al-Mukhtar” as a global terrorist organization, which threatens the security of the Kingdom and countries globally. The Cabinet praised the continued support of the United States of America in confronting terrorist organizations and fighting extremism.
Furthermore, the Cabinet welcomed the announcement by the Yemeni parties, represented by the legitimate government and the Southern Transitional Council, of the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, and the formation of an inclusive government. In this regard, the Cabinet acknowledged the sincere efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Kingdom’s commitment to a stable and prosperous Yemen.
The Cabinet concluded by welcoming the formal removal of Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, expressing its hope that this step would strengthen Sudan’s role within the MENA region and internationally.
A number of memorandums were discussed during the meeting.
The Cabinet outlined the following outcomes:
Firstly: The Approval of the following memorandums:
1. A memorandum from the Government Executive Committee regarding the 2019-2022 Government Priorities Framework (GPF 3.0), including new recommended programs introduced within its third edition. Thirteen programs of thirty-six have already completed, and the remaining programs are on schedule. Eighteen new programs have been added in the updated framework (GPF 3.1), in line with the 2019-2022 Government Program goals, and in accordance with the next phase of the Kingdom’s development.
2. A memorandum from the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs on the implementation of the ruling issued by the Constitutional Court on the Parliamentary Investigation Committee.
3. A memorandum from the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance on the roll-out of electronic payments for government services, to replace cash transactions, and accelerate the digital transformation of government financial operations.
4. A memorandum from the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance on the establishment of an advanced artificial intelligence educational laboratory at the University of Bahrain, to further enhance education and development.
5. A memorandum from the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding the government’s response to 6 proposals, submitted by the Council of Representatives.
Secondly: The Cabinet reviewed the following topic:
1. A memorandum from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy regarding the Kingdom’s third quarterly economic report of 2020. According to the preliminary data for the third quarter of 2020, gross domestic product increased by 1.7% at constant prices compared to the second quarter of 2020, and by 6.8% at current prices. A number of important economic indicators witnessed positive growth in the same period, reflecting favourably on the comprehensive national response to Covid-19, managing the economic impact and further strengthening the recovery of the national economy.
