HRH Premier chairs Cabinet session

Manama, Sept. 3 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. Egyptian President’s visit ‘fruitful’ The session lauded the ‘fruitful’ outcomes of the visit of the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to Bahrain recently, and the talks he had held with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The cabinet hailed the level of the solid deep-rooted Bahraini-Egyptian relations, and stressed the importance of President el-Sisi’s visit in bolstering bilateral ties, praising Egypt’s status, supportive stances towards Bahrain and Arab issues, and influential strategic weight at the Arab and Islamic levels. Premier congratulates students, teachers HRH the Prime Minister extended congratulations to students and the administrative and teaching staff across the kingdom on the new academic year, 2018-2019, wishing them every success. The Prime Minister, while commenting on a memorandum presented by the Education Minister on the Education Ministry’s preparations for the new school year, emphasised the importance of enhancing the educational process, improving the quality of education and developing the outputs of education to achieve the government’s aspirations and meet the present and future needs of the development process. Milestone sports achievements welcomed HRH Premier welcomed the landmark achievements attained by the kingdom at various sports gatherings, lauding, in this regard, Bahrain’s success in bagging 26 medals and ranking the first Arab country during the 18th Asian Games, which concluded recently in Indonesia. The Prime Minister commended the role played by the Representative of HM the King for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in supporting the youth and sports sector and putting in place all success requirements, lauding the dedication and outstanding performance of Bahraini athletes. Government’s support to UNRWA affirmed The Prime Minister affirmed the government's support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in recognition of the humanitarian role it is playing in providing relief, development and employment for the Palestinian refugees. Ministry urged to complete projects in villages, towns The cabinet reviewed the measures taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, following directives from HRH the Prime Minister, to meet the needs of a number of villages and regions across the kingdom. In this regard, HRH Premier gave directives to complete social projects that serve a number of villages and towns during 2019, including the Budaiya Integrated Community Centre, a Parents' Day Care Club in Jid Hafs, to be attached to the Jid Hafs Community Centre, and the Comprehensive Disability Complex in A'Ali. HRH Premier, while commenting on a memorandum submitted by the Labour and Social Development Minister, also gave directives to fast-track the executive procedures to revamp the Isa Town Social Services Complex project, and the Social Care Complex project in Hamad Town, as well as to build a social centre that serves the Southern Governorate’s citizens and an Elderly Day Care House for women in Hoora. Draft resolution referred to ministerial committee The session referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Expenditure Rationalisation a memorandum presented by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs on a draft resolution determining areas of spending the fines related to the violations of the provisions of Law 36/2012 promulgating the Labour Law in the Private Sector. Amendment to CR’s article approved The cabinet discussed a draft-law on amending Article 14 of the by-law of Decree-Law 27/2015 on the Commercial Register (CR), issued as per Edict 126/2016. The bill aims to ensure that the transactions of the companies owned by the same partners shall not be affected while submitting applications for the CR, whether for renewal, cancellation or marking violations, and that only the transactions of the company and its branches would be affected. The session approved the bill, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. Foreign companies no longer required to have Bahraini partners The cabinet approved a proposal to allow foreign companies to open branches in Bahrain without necessarily having a Bahraini partner, given the move’s strategic economic importance for the kingdom. The matter, highlighted in a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, is in line with the provisions of Article 345 of Decree-Law 28/2015 on amending the Commercial Companies Law promulgated by Law 21/2001. Lease Law article to be amended The session approved, based on a recommendation by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, a draft-law, prepared based on a proposal presented by the Shura Council, on amending article 43 of the Property Lease Law promulgated by Law 27/2014. Under the amendment, the decisions of the Lease Dispute Committee may be challenged at the High Civil Court. Bills referred to Representatives Council The session reviewed a draft-law, prepared based on a proposal by the Council of Representatives, on amending Article 361 of the Penal Code promulgated by Law 5/1976, and another, prepared based on a proposal by the Shura Council, on cancelling the second paragraph of Article 326 of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law promulgated by Decree-Law 12/1971. The two bills were referred to the Council of Representatives, along with a memorandum on the government’s opinion on them.