HRH the Crown Prince chairs weekly Cabinet meeting
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.
Following the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary-General, HE Dr. Yasser bin Issa Al-Nasser, made the following remarks:
The Cabinet extended congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, and the Kingdom’s citizens on the 19th anniversary of the National Action Charter.
The Cabinet highlighted the historic achievements of Bahrain’s comprehensive development, led by HM the King, and underlined the important and ongoing contribution of the Kingdom’s citizens, who voted 98.4% in favour of the National Action Charter in 2001.
The Cabinet went on to welcome HRH the Prime Minister’s meeting with HRH the Crown Prince in the Federal Republic of Germany, wishing HRH the Prime Minister continued health and a safe return to the Kingdom.
HRH the Crown Prince then briefed the Cabinet on the successful outcomes of the official visit HRH led to the Italian Republic, during which HRH the Crown Prince met with His Holiness, Pope Francis and the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, HE Giuseppe Conte, and a number of senior business officials. The Cabinet noted that the visit has strengthened bilateral relations and cooperation, benefiting both countries and their peoples.
The Cabinet praised the positive preliminary forecasts of the fiscal results for the year 2019 compared with 2018, which indicate a reduction of the primary fiscal deficit by 85% (excluding public debt interest), and a reduction in the total fiscal deficit of 24% (including public debt interest). The initial results further revealed an increase in non-oil revenue by 63%, and a decrease in public expenditure by BHD 128 million. Furthermore, according to the estimates, economic growth reached 2.1% in 2019, largely driven by 2.3% increase in non-oil sector growth.
In conclusion, the Cabinet noted that the Kingdom witnessed positive growth in 2019, in parallel with the implementation of the initiatives under the Fiscal Balance Program and supported by the positive growth of non-oil sectors, itself a result of economic diversification initiatives within Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
A number of submissions, memorandums and proposed laws were discussed during the meeting.
The Cabinet outlined the following outcomes:
1. The Cabinet approved an amendment to the regulations of the Civil Aviation law. The amendment permits the licensing of navigation and meteorological services, with the addition of new definitions and technical terms, and amends texts related to aircraft accidents, air security, international air transport and the reservation of aircrafts. The Cabinet referred the Draft Law amending provisions of the Civil Aviation regulations, issued under Law no. 14 for the year 2013, to the Legislative Authority, in accordance to constitutional and legal procedures.
2. The Cabinet approved a Draft Resolution specifying the regulations and requirements of mobile food truck services within residential locations. The requirements include leaving a distance of at least 20 meters in all directions from neighbouring buildings, and a distance of 50 meters from any road intersection, roundabout or traffic lights. The Draft Resolution further determines the period of service activity from 6 am to 12 midnight, and that food vehicles must leave the residential areas along with all equipment or furniture after completing the provision of their services.
3. The Cabinet approved three MoUs and an Executive Program, submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, between the governments of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, to cooperate across various fields, including human resource development, media, electricity and water, as well as cooperation between national committees, regarding the prohibition, use, production, and storing of chemical weapons, and the destruction of these chemical weapons in the Kingdom of Bahrain in collaboration with the UAE’s Committee for Goods and Materials Subject to Import and Export Control.
4. The Cabinet approved a Draft Resolution issuing executive regulations for veterinary products within the GCC issued by Law No. (19) for the year 2014. The Draft Resolution aims to regulate the licensing and registration of veterinary companies and factories, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs presented by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of aforementioned committee.
5. The Cabinet approved a Draft Resolution issuing the executive regulations for Veterinary practice within the GCC, issued by Law no. (17) for the year 2014. The Draft Resolution ensures the organisation of the veterinary profession, and its supportive activities, as well as outlining the requirements needed for granting veterinary licenses to private veterinary establishments, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs presented by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the aforementioned committee.
6. The Cabinet reviewed the strategic initiatives and priorities that are being implemented by the Works Affairs, under the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, in order to implement the main objectives of the 2019-2022 Government Programme, aimed at achieving further sustainable development. The memorandum, submitted by HE the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, details current and future projects and initiatives being implemented by the Ministry, in order to achieve the strategic priorities and initiatives within the Government Programme.
7. The Cabinet reviewed a report submitted by HE the Minister of Health regarding the measures taken to intensify supervision and inspections on retail shops, restaurants, and salons, ensuring the implementation of the cabinet decision taken on this topic.
8. The Cabinet approved a recommendation regarding the late disbursement of bonuses and payments to sport players and national coaches within various sports clubs, through the national program launched by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs
9. The Cabinet approved a recommendation to invite cancer patients and patients with chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia to attend important football matches within the Kingdom.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of ministerial reports, including one submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the results of the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level held recently in Cairo, and a report submitted by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning regarding a visit made by the UAE’s Minister of State for Food Security to the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as a report submitted by the Minister of Health regarding the provision of supplies needed to ensure safeguarding the Kingdom from the Novel Coronavirus. Two further reports, submitted by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, were also reviewed regarding the activities organised to celebrate the Bahrain National Sports Day, and outcomes of the Ministry’s participation in a conference to discuss the future of the global sports industry, which was recently held in the United States of America.
