HRH Premier chairs weekly cabinet session

Manama, Dec. 28 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa today chaired, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, the regular weekly session. HRH Premier extended sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Bahraini people on the near advent of the new Gregorian Year, 2016. In this regard, the cabinet wished peace and stability to the world during the new year, and further progress and prosperity to Bahrain, under HM King Hamad's leadership, Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser said in a statement following the session. On economy, HRH Premier called for attracting more investments and encouraging joint projects, highlighting the economic and investment importance of the Diyar Al-Muharraq's "Dragon City" project which was opened recently under his patronage, given its positive role in activating trade relations between Bahrain and friendly China, particularly regarding joint investments. regarding tourism, HRH the Prime Minister issued directives to carry on efforts to revamp heritage and historical sites that highlight the kingdom's rich historical heritage and civilisational , and revitalise tourism, noting that the Post Department, opened recently in Bab al-Bahrain during the ceremony held under his auspices, has become a kind of museum that tells the history of the postal services in the kingdom. Concerning efforts to reduce government spending and rationalise expenditure, HRH the Prime Minister issued instructions to legalise the lease of buildings to be used as headquarters for ministries or activities related to them, as proposed by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince. After reviewing the mechanisms proposed by the Executive Committee in this regard, HRH Premier requested it to follow up on the matter. Reviewing the memoranda listed on its agenda, the session approved a plan to adjust the prices of diesel, kerosene and plane fuel, while keeping the subsidised prices of kerosene for bakeries and diesel for fishermen unchanged. The move will not affect the kingdom's competitiveness with respect to diesel and kerosene prices at the regional level, the cabinet affirmed. In this regard, the cabinet reviewed the recommendations made by the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, presented by the Deputy Premier and its Chairman HH Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, and tasked the Energy Ministry to take the necessary procedures. In another context, the session agreed to re-structure the Works Affairs at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. Under the move, the post of Assistant Undersecretary for Human and Financial Resources will be cancelled, the affiliation of the Directorate of Financial Resources and the Directorate of Human Resources will be changed and the Public Relations Directorate will renamed as Directorate of Communication. The competent sides were then requested to take the necessary procedures. The cabinet referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Bahrain and India on bilateral cooperation to combat trafficking in persons. Another MoU, signed between the University of Bahrain and the Saint State Petersburg University in Russia, was approved. The session then discussed two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and approved the government's reply onto them, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. They included the establishment of a centre for government services in the Northern Governorate and unauthorised construction works in some regions.