The Deputy Prime Minister, HE Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, today chaired the weekly Cabinet Meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.
On the occasion of the upcoming Islamic Hijri new year 1445 AH, the Cabinet extended its best wishes to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the citizens and residents of Bahrain, as well as to all other Arab and Islamic nations.
The Cabinet affirmed the importance of the official visit by His Royal Highness to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where HRH met with HRH Prince William of Wales, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and other senior officials.
The Cabinet affirmed its commitment to expedite the implementation of the agreements and MoUs signed during the visit, which will contribute to advancing cooperation between the two countries in the economic, investment, financial, banking, education, and training fields.
The Cabinet commended the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2022 published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom last Thursday, which removed the Kingdom of Bahrain from the list of countries classified as priority countries for human rights.
The report’s outcomes reflect the Kingdom’s human rights achievements under comprehensive development led by HM the King, with the support of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Cabinet followed up on preparations for Ashura in the Kingdom’s governorates, highlighting the efforts by the Ministry of Interior, and other concerned ministries and authorities to meet all Ashura-related requirements.
The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance, that covered the quarterly economic report of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first quarter of 2023. According to the report, the non-oil sector recorded growth of 3.5% year-on-year at constant prices, and the overall economy marked a 2.0% annual growth at constant prices.
During the meeting, the Cabinet discussed several memorandums, approving the following:
1. A memorandum from the Minister of Interior on the establishment of a special platform to exchange information between GCC countries for combating money laundering, financing terrorism and other related crimes.
2. A memorandum by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs on the government’s response to 10 proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and a proposed law submitted by the Shura Council.
The Cabinet reviewed the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture memorandum, on the decisions of the Kingdom’s municipal councils for the first session of the sixth municipal term (December 2022 to June 2023).
Finally, the Cabinet noted the following ministerial reports:
1. The results of Bahrain’s participation in the sixth joint Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the GCC countries and the Russian Federation.
2. The official visit by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications to the Swiss Confederation.
BNA(R)
