Government holds coordination meeting on economy, fiscal security

Manama, Nov. 21 (BNA): Government officials today held a coordination meeting focused on sustainable economic development and strengthening the Kingdom’s long-term fiscal security. The meeting follows the 2017 Government Forum, during which His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, directed government officials to lead a series of workshops to identify key objectives for the upcoming Government Action Plan (2019 - 2022). The 2017 Government Forum was held in October under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and through the initiative of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The Forum outlined the government’s progress in implementing initiatives and programmes within the current Government Action Plan (2015 – 2018). A series of coordination meetings are being held to inform the workshops, which will cover key priority areas for the upcoming Government Action Plan (2019 – 2022). This includes a coordination meeting on Bahrain’s infrastructure development which took take place on Monday 20 November. Commenting on the outcomes of today’s meeting, Mohammed bin Ebrahim Al Mutawa, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs highlighted that, under the directives of His Majesty the King, citizens remain at the heart of development efforts. He went on to stress the integral role that His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince play in driving forward sustainable development. During the meeting, officials reviewed recommendations relating to key economic sectors that had been submitted by a number of government ministries and departments. Government officials also discussed regulatory policies that underpin the Kingdom’s diversification efforts by regulating public expenditure and increasing revenues. In addition, a series of substantial government-funded development projects were outlined, with an emphasis on the principles of sustainability, competitiveness, and fairness that underpin Bahrain’s Vision 2030, as well as the underlying goals of the upcoming Government Action Plan (2019 – 2022). The final outcomes will be handed over to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure for approval. Following the Committee’s approval, the final outcomes will be discussed at the first workshop which is anticipated to take place next week.