King’s visit to Egypt hailed

Manama : His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has hailed the visits of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the brotherly and friendly countries, including his visit to Egypt. HRH Premier made the statement 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 yesterday.
HRH the Prime Minister lauded the role played by HM King Hamad in enhancing the joint Arab coordination in regional and global issues, wishing him and other Arab leaders every success in the 28th Arab Summit, to be hosted by Jordan.
The Premier expressed hope that the Arab Summit will strengthen Arab cooperation, and boost joint Arab action, noting that the rapidly unfolding events and their impacts, as well as the requirements of the current phase make coordinated and complementary Arab action a necessity. Referring to Bahrain’s agreement with GCC with regard to initiating financial and commercial activities in GCC countries, the HRH Premier requested the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to cooperate with the relevant sides to provide support to national companies and banks to open branches in GCC states.
Unified Framework
Reviewing the memoranda on the session’s agenda, HRH Premier praised the results achieved following the implementation of the updated second edition of the Unified Framework of Priority Government Programmes commending the efforts of the Executive Committee, led by HRH the Crown Prince.  HRH Premier has  instructed the ministers – each according to their competence - to implement the programmes included in the Unified Framework after HRH Crown Prince had informed the session about the programmes implemented within the framework from its inception to late 2016, as well as about the newly-added programmes which were recommended by the Executive Committee.
According to HRH Crown Prince, 15 initiatives out of 32 have been implemented, and the remaining ones are being implemented as per schedule. 15 new programmes with priority have been added to the Unified Framework in accordance with the six themes of the Government Action Plan.

Cabinet decisions

The Cabinet yesterday endorsed a plan to launch the National Plan for Natural Pearls, which had been approved by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince. The plan aims to make Bahrain an international centre for natural pearl testing, and one of the leading global centres in natural pearl hunting and production for the sake of boosting tourism and promoting Bahrain’s deep-rooted pearling heritage.

The cabinet approved a number of draft ministerial edicts on determining protected areas where some activities such as oyster collection, dredging and marine dredging are permitted.  It also approved a draft edict regulating pearl hunting and production, and another on regulating inland sea cruises.

The cabinet approved a draft edict submitted by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication on amending the regulation on the fees imposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) on licenses and other services.

A draft ministerial edict submitted by the Minister of Health on regulating control on the use, marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

The Cabinet approved in principle a proposal presented by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to hold a shopping and leisure event during the holy month of Ramadan, with the participation of the private sector, and requested the minister to include the opinion of the Bahrain Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The Cabinet discussed proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, and approved the draft replies that had been prepared by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The proposals were mainly related to Tamkeen’s support to some national institutions, commitment to the Government Action Plan.