Cabinet condemns missile attacks on Riyadh

Manama, Mar. 26 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has ordered the postponement of the implementation of the Ministerial Edict 130/2016 on commercial registration (CR) fees for another six months, beginning from April 1, and requested the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to take the necessary procedures. The Premier’s order was in response to a request submitted by the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and in line with his keenness on paving the way for reaching a consensus formula with BCCI in this regard. HRH Premier was speaking while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet Session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. The cabinet condemned, in the strongest terms, the launch of ballistic missiles by coup militias in Yemen on the Saudi Capital, Riyadh, for the aim of targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia. The session lauded the competence of the Saudi Armed Forces for their outstanding ability to intercept the Riyadh-bound missiles, describing the attack as heinous and cowardly, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said. The session reiterated Bahrain’s full-fledged support for sisterly Saudi Arabia, and backing of all the measures it deems necessary to counter the failed and desperate attempts made by the coup militias to target the fortified security and stability in Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Then, HRH Premier, while tackling development issues, gave directives to follow-up on the needs of the Al-Salhiya village regarding the sufficiency of housing services, and requested the Housing Minister to do what is necessary to meet them. While reviewing the memoranda on its agenda, the cabinet approved the addition of four new activities in which foreign investors are allowed 100% ownership. They include arranging and organising touristic tours, operating water transportation for pleasure or cruises, sports events’ production, contracting and organisation, in addition to crop cultivation and plant propagation. The session also agreed to divide legal activities into two categories, whereby the exercise of the legal profession will be confined to Bahrainis, while foreign investors will be allowed 100% ownership of foreign consultation offices. The cabinet also endorsed the foreign investors’ 100% ownership of air ambulance, a memoranda presented by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism also said.  The session also approved a draft-law on the issuance of a new maritime law that will abrogate the current law promulgated by Decree-Law 23/1982 and its amendments, and the Law on the Registration of Ships and Determination of Safety Conditions promulgated by Decree-Law 14/1978. The bill will allow the kingdom to take advantage of its potentials and geographical location, and to achieve growth and prosperity in the maritime field.  It will also ensure more flexibility and facilities that will lead to boosting the maritime movement and maximising the Kingdom's use of it as an economic resource.  The draft-law also ensures keeping pace with the latest developments and innovations in science, technology, international trade and maritime transport, as well as the laws, regulations and protocols of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the kingdom’s obligations in this regard. The session also approved, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, the membership of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Committee for Standardization Affairs.  The cabinet requested the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training to take the necessary procedures to renew the membership of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) in a number of regional and international agencies and organisations, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, and Deputy Chairman of the BQA’s Board of Directors. The session endorsed the government's response to a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on a sports club for people with mental disabilities, and another on the Urban Development Project in Karbabad. On ministerial reports, the session was informed about the outcomes of the recent visits of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to the United Kingdom and France.