Cabinet lauds strong relations with Egypt, Morocco

Manama, May 2 (BNA): The Cabinet has lauded the success of the recent visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Egypt, noting that the gracious official and popular welcome of the royal visit reflects the distinguished status of HM the King, and the Arab and regional appreciation of the Kingdom's stances. The Cabinet has welcomed the fruitful outcomes of the talks between HM King Hamad and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, stressing that the signing of agreements – 20 governmental and 14 from the public sector – during the royal visit confirms the keenness the two brotherly countries share regarding strengthening bilateral cooperation. Chaired by HRH the Premier, the session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, also lauded the results of the recent visit of HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco to Bahrain at the invitation of HM King Hamad. The positive outcomes of the visit and the agreements signed affirm the two countries' desire to continue activating and developing mechanisms of cooperation between them as the best means to strengthen their fraternal relations, Cabinet Secretary General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said in a statement following today's regular weekly session, held at the Gudaibiya Palace. The Cabinet then praised the abundance and variety of real estate development projects in the Kingdom, which indicate that the country has prepared a fertile environment for investment to flourish, especially in real estate. The Cabinet highlighted the success of gulfBID annual expo for construction (gulfBID 2016), held under the auspices of HRH Premier. On the commemoration of Isra and Mi'raj (the night during which Prophet Mohammed traveled from Mecca to Al-Quds, ascended to Heaven and returned), the Cabinet has extended congratulations to HM the King, Bahraini citizens and Muslims all over the world, urging a committed stance to the approach of Prophet Mohammed. Referring to World Press Freedom Day, the Cabinet has recalled with pride and admiration the crucial role played by the national press in enhancing the national work march, defending national issues, highlighting its milestone achievements and countering the systematic distortive media campaigns staged against the Kingdom. The Cabinet reiterated support for responsible freedoms of opinion and expression that are guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant laws. The Cabinet then condemned the brutal attacks on civilians and hospitals in Aleppo, Syria, which led to the death and injury of hundreds of civilians, spread destruction and deepened the country’s humanitarian crisis. It has urged the international community to respond firmly and decisively against those crimes of humanity, and to provide protection and basic services for innocent civilians to alleviate their suffering. On development efforts, HRH the Prime Minister has directed relevant offices to follow up on all citizen-related issues and address all shortcomings in the services provided by the government in villages and cities. The Prime Minister specifically has requested the delayed projects in Muharraq be finalised according to schedule. He also has directed the distribution of the housing units of Al-Luzi Housing Project that serves the Damistan and the neighbouring villages be fast-tracked. HRH the Prime Minister also informed the Cabinet about his Monday morning visit to the Council of Representatives. He voiced pride in the existing fruitful cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature, calling for the need to pave the way for broadening such cooperation and increasing interaction between the members of the two branches. The Cabinet then discussed ways to develop the "Khutwa" (Step) programme for home projects in order to empower Bahraini families economically. Under the new scheme, Bahraini families and individuals who do not have a commercial registrar and want to work from home may join the "Khutwa" programme, receive a permit to work from home and benefit from the government's financing and promotion services. The new-look programme, aiming to increase the number of "Khutwa" beneficiaries from 300 to 1,000 annually and include unemployed citizens, was highlighted in a memorandum presented by the Labour and Social Development Minister and referred to the Executive Council, led by HRH the Crown Prince, for further study. The Cabinet also reviewed a memorandum presented by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning on scheduled road and sanitary projects for 2016. The memorandum showed that 12 projects, worth BD21 million have been awarded, and 17 projects, worth BD101 million, have been put out to tender so far in 2016. The projects include expanding the Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant, revamping Al-Jasra Intersection, rehabilitating the old sewage networks in Muharraq and Manama, including the water drainage network. As part of the government's efforts to reduce costs and rationalise expenditure, the Cabinet has also approved a proposal to re-structure the Informatics and e-Government Authority. Under the proposal, submitted by the Deputy Premier and Deputy Chairman of the Civil Service Council, the number of assistant undersecretaries will decrease from six to four, while the number of directorates will drop from 21 to 16. The Cabinet also reviewed a proposal presented by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training (QQA), to change the existing way in which review reports of education, training and national examination are presented. The proposal calls for reports to be delivered annually or in the end of each evaluation session. A draft decree on amending some provisions of Decree 83/2012 on organising QQA was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The Cabinet then endorsed a draft law on ratifying the Bahrain-India Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and referred it to the Legislative Branch, in accordance with the constitutional and legal procedures in force. A memorandum presented by the Interior Minister on a Friendship Agreement between Manama and Wuhan City in China was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The Cabinet discussed four proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, and approved the Government's replies to them as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. They included a Parents' Care House in Umm Al-Hassam, a primary school in the Southern Governorate's fourth constituency, a grand park in the Northern Governorate's fifth constituency and specialised centres for people with special needs.