Cabinet praises UNESCO-King Hamad ICTs Prize

Manama, Mar. 12 (BNA): The Cabinet has congratulated the laureates of the UNESCO-King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Education. The session lauded the role of the prestigious award named after HM the King and which contributes to promoting the goals of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of using ICTs to improve education and develop its output. This came as His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired 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 Premier, at the Gudaibiya Palace today. HRH Premier gave directives to implement 14 development, service and tourism projects across the Southern Governorate. In this context, the Prime Minister requested the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure to study 11 development projects in the Southern Governorate, and instructed to expedite the completion of three projects being implemented there, a post-session statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said.  The projects include a model integrated primary, intermediate and secondary school for girls and a youth centre in Zallaq, the Isa Town Souq revamp, the study of the establishment of a new health centre in Khalifa Town, revamping the Riffa Market and the Ain Hunainiya Park, revamping Avenue 96, revamping the Askar Stadium to be used for multiple purposes and activities, installing CCTV cameras at the Riffa Market, revamping the Bu Kawarah Park and the establishment of a Majlis for the Al-Dour citizens. HRH Premier highlighted the importance of the 13th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition (GEO 2018), held recently under his patronage and opened on his behalf by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, hailing GEO 2018’s outstanding organisation and increasing participation of world oil companies and geoscience experts. Referring to the recent elections of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the session congratulated the winners and affirmed the government’s support for the trade and industrial sectors, represented by BCCI. Commenting on a report by the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister on BCCI elections, the Cabinet also praised BCCI’s role in supporting the government’s policies regarding the economic development process. On health, HRH Premier gave directives to the Health Ministry to coordinate with the competent authorities to tighten control over some types of treatment that may be misused for purposes that are criminalised by the law. The Prime Minister also gave instructions to take precautionary measures and tighten control to prevent the arrival of bird flu to the country from some areas where the disease had been detected, and requested the relevant authorities to monitor the situation. The session lauded the outcomes of the recent visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, to the United Kingdom, highlighting its role in strengthening Arab-British relations, citing the consolidation of the UK’s stances in support of Saudi Arabia. The gracious welcome accorded to HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the official and public levels reflects the great status enjoyed by Saudi Arabia regionally and internationally, the session said.  The Cabinet approved, based on a recommendation by the Executive Committee, led by HRH the Crown Prince, a draft-law on reconstruction and bankruptcy, and decided to refer it to the Legislative Branch.  The bill aims to promote economic growth-supporting legislation and to encourage investment. It will contribute to updating bankruptcy proceedings and to creating the financial re-structuring of commercial institutions and companies system, except for those subject to the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). The bill also contributes to assisting bankrupt companies to rectify their situation and ensure the rights of all parties. The session also endorsed the Kingdom’s accession to the Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and decided to refer a draft law in this regard to the Legislature. Under the bill, the Minister of Finance will subscribe to the shares of the capital of the bank in the name of Bahrain, while CBB will be the depositing institution for the subscription in the Kingdom. The Cabinet also approved the ratification of the Third Protocol to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bahrain and the United States, and decided to refer a draft law in this regard to the Parliament.  The session also approved the amendment of BHB’s Establishment Law and Internal Regulation. The move, highlighted in a memorandum presented by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, aims to add an e-registration mechanism to facilitate procedures and to amend the responsibilities of the Board of Directors and the executive management in relation to vacancies, board meetings and the allocation of responsibilities. The session endorsed a draft decree on amending BHB’s Establishment Law and Internal Regulation. The Cabinet discussed the formation of two national committees, comprising representatives from the public and private health sectors.  The High Committee for Quality and Clinical Standards will provide technical advice on how to improve the quality and sustainability of health services while the High Committee for Medical Training aims to build the capacity of medical staff.  The move is in line with the government’s keenness to improve the standards of public and private health services, consolidate competitiveness, and promote monitoring and transparency as the best means to ensure the optimal use of resources in the health sector The memorandum presented by the Health Minister in this regard was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study. The session reviewed a draft-law on amending some provisions of the Child Law, promulgated by Law 37/2012, which was proposed by the Council of Representatives. The bill was referred to the Legislative Branch, along with a memorandum explaining the government’s opinion, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs, and presented by the Minister of Parliament Affairs. The Cabinet discussed two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives on water-pooling in Al-Lawzi, and the treatment of expatriate workers, and endorsed the government’s responses as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The session was informed about a report by the Minister of Interior on his participation in the 35th session of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council, recently held in Algiers, and another on his participation in the International Security Coalition meeting, hosted by Abu Dhabi recently. The Cabinet also reviewed another report by the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the outcomes of the 149th session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, held recently in Cairo.