The Deputy Prime Minister, HE Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, today chaired the weekly Cabinet Meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.
The Cabinet commended His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting those in need and helping to relieve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people.
The Cabinet highlighted the importance of de-escalation, providing humanitarian relief, food, water, electricity, and medical aid into the Gaza Strip. It also emphasised the need to uphold international humanitarian law by protecting civilians and releasing any civilian hostages.
The Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s full support for all efforts towards achieving a just solution on the Palestinian issue to ensure regional security and stability. The Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom’s support for a two-state solution in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative, noting that peace and adherence to the Initiative are the only way to ensure the Palestinian people’s rights to an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Cabinet followed up on the procedures taken by ministries and government agencies regarding HM the King’s Royal Order to preserve the historical and cultural identity of Bahrain’s buildings and cities, the Isa Al Kabeer Palace, and Muharraq during their renovation and development plans. In this regard, the Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa visited Muharraq and directed the immediate implementation of the Muharraq Development Plan’s procedures to accelerate the completion of the Pearling Path project.
The Cabinet then highlighted the digital transformation of public services, which facilitates their use, and commended the vital role of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology, headed by the Interior Minister.
The Cabinet congratulated the winners of the eGovernment Excellence Award during the 10th Bahrain International eGovernment Forum, which received wide participation from the Kingdom’s ministries, government agencies, and private sector.
In commemoration of Bahraini Engineer’s Day, the Cabinet congratulated Bahraini engineers and commended the role of the Kingdom’s national workforce in advancing the Kingdom’s development.
The Cabinet discussed several memorandums during the meeting, approving the following:
1. A memorandum submitted by the Minister of Interior regarding the National Strategy for Cyberspace Child Protection (2023-2026) to promote safe Internet use and prevent child exploitation.
2. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs to join the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
3. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding an MoU on the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain and the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
4. A memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs on the government’s response to two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives.
The Cabinet reviewed the following:
1. A memorandum submitted by the Minister of Legal Affairs regarding the latest developments in the annual legislative plan.
2. A memorandum submitted by the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning regarding the latest developments in housing projects and programmes, urban planning, and progress in housing, financing, and urban planning services. In this regard, the Cabinet emphasised the importance of implementing new solutions that support citizens’ aspirations in promptly fulfilling their housing needs and providing necessary services.
In addition, the Cabinet noted the following ministerial reports:
1. Participation in the 27th GCC-EU Joint Council
2. Outcomes of the participation in the emergency meeting of the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the level of Foreign Ministers
3. Outcomes of the 120th meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
4. Outcomes of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group
5. Participation in the 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean
6. Schools in the Kingdom of Bahrain awarded the “Technology Incubator Schools” status from Microsoft for the 2023-2024 academic year.
BNA(R)
