Cabinet okays draft decree to set up RERA

Manama : The Cabinet meeting chaired 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 approved a draft decree establishing the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), which will aim to develop the real estate sector in the Kingdom and enhance the investment environment in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Law. The Law has already been ratified by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa after its approval by the Shura and Representatives Councils. 

Govt Action Plan

The Cabinet directed the Executive to work towards achieving the goals of the 2015-2018 Government Action Plan. All government bodies and its heads have been asked to hold workshops to identify key objectives of the Plan ahead of the next legislative session. 

The Cabinet expressed thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, for his patronage of the 2017 Government Forum and for his keen interest in improving the government’s performance. 

 The Cabinet congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the success of the recent Bahrain International Defense Exhibition and Conference. 

The Cabinet approved a request by the Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning to acquire seven properties in Muharraq Governorate for the establishment of parking lots in Muharraq and Al Busaitin, as well as the development of Ain Raya Park in Al Muharraq.

Memorandums submitted by ministries approved

Several memorandums submitted by ministries and ministerial committees were discussed and approved at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday. Key among them were:

1) The Strategic Partnership Framework Agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Nations’ Agencies, which aims to enhance cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and 16 United Nations bodies in line with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the United Nations sustainable development goals. The Cabinet approved the pact.

2) The Cabinet approved a draft edict covering license fees on hazardous waste issued by the Supreme Council for the Environment, with a view to protecting the environment in accordance with established law

3) The Cabinet approved the imposition of fees on certain imported products in to protect the GCC industry and enhance competition across all GCC countries.

4) The Cabinet approved the involvement of the Kingdom in the fifth capital increase of the Islamic Development Bank and the general increase in the capital of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

5)  The Cabinet approved the restructuring of the National Committee on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, thereby supporting its role in the follow up and implementation of conventions and treaties with relevant international organizations.

 6) The Cabinet approved a draft law amending certain provisions of the Anti-Smoking and Tobacco legislation submitted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention

7) The Cabinet referred the draft Air Services Agreement between Bahrain and the UAE to the relevant legal authorities for consideration and approval

8) The Cabinet approved the recommendation of the Ministerial Committee on Legal Affairs to review a bill submitted by the House of Representatives covering the protection of national traditional handicrafts

9) The Cabinet reviewed a report on the International Ministerial Meeting of Ministers of Youth and Sports and the Nineteenth World Student and Youth Festival held in Moscow

10) The Cabinet welcomed the Establishment of the Coordinating Council between The Republic of Iraq and The Kingdom of Saudi and the positive role this will play in further fostering brotherly relations between the two countries, while promoting Arab cooperation.