HRH the Crown Prince chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, today chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, held remotely.
 
During the meeting, the Cabinet extended its best wishes to HM the King, HRH the Prime Minister, HRH the Crown Prince, Bahrain’s citizens, and the Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of the Hijri New Year 1442. 
 
The Cabinet extended its gratitude to all citizens and residents who have volunteered to register for the phase III clinical trials of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine, noting that the broad amount of registrations reflects the consolidated efforts of the community to combat the virus.
 
The Cabinet congratulated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its diplomatic achievement in announcing, with the United States of America and Israel, an agreement halting the annexation of the Palestinian territories, a step towards the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.
 
The Cabinet condemned the threats made by Iran against the UAE which are considered unacceptable interferences in the internal affairs of the UAE’s sovereignty, and has repercussions on regional security and stability. The Cabinet affirmed its full support of UAE measures ensuring its security and stability. 
 
The Cabinet further condemned the Houthi terrorist militia’s continued launching of ballistic missiles targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and expressed the Kingdom’s continued support to Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and stability.
 
The Cabinet further denounced Turkish military aggression in Sidekan, in the Republic of Iraq, noting that the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, the principles of good neighbourliness and international law.
 
Following the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary-General, HE Dr. Yasser bin Issa Al-Nasser, made the following remarks:
 
A number of submissions, memorandums and proposed laws were discussed during the meeting.
 
The Cabinet outlined the following outcomes:
 
1. The Cabinet approved a recommendation submitted by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, regarding the adoption of two organisational structures.
 
The first will be adopted by public hospitals, and includes the provision of a Chief Executive position, with a hiring rank of Undersecretary, reporting to the Board of Trustees for Government Hospitals, with three directorates reporting to the Chief Executive. The second organisational structure will be for Primary Healthcare Centres, by the provision of a Chief Executive position, with a hiring rank of Undersecretary, reporting to the Board of Trustees for Primary Healthcare Centers, with three directorates reporting to the Chief Executive. 
 
2. The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, regarding the Kingdom’s economic indicators of various economic sectors through to July 2020.
 
The memorandum, which was presented by the Minister of Finance and National Economy, revealed an improvement in a number of sectors and economic activities that have been affected by the repercussions of the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 
As indicated by the memorandum, consumer activity has seen positive growth with total sales on food increasing on a monthly basis by 9% in June and 15% in July. Similarly, sales of non-essential goods increased by 12% and 28% in the last two months, respectively. Total exports increased by 2%, and by 12% between June and July, and the number of visitors to commercial complexes increased by 20% and 30%, respectively.
 
Furthermore, business activity increased across the Kingdom, as witnessed by the monthly number of new commercial registrations (CR) created, with the number of company CRs up 59% in June and up a further 7% in July, while the number of individuals CRs increased by 109% in June and 4% in July.
 
Additionally, the number of building permits issued has more than doubled, increasing by 124% in June, with almost a 55% increase in number of transactions month on month in June and a further 19% increase in July.
 
3. The Cabinet approved a Draft Law amending some provisions of the executive regulations of the Municipalities Law promulgated by Decree-Law No. 35 of 2001, to be aligned with the provisions of Decree No. (50) for the year 2019.
 
The Draft Law includes the reorganisation of municipal affairs within the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, in line with the abolition of the financial and administrative services directorate and the technical services directorates in each municipality as well as the Capital Municipal Council and replacing them with administrative and technical units.
 
The memorandum was submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs and presented by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the aforementioned committee.
 
4. The Cabinet followed up on the implementation of voluntary commitments of the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the recommendations that the Kingdom received during the universal periodic review process, including the preparation of a national action plan for human rights, through a memorandum submitted for this purpose by HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
 
The Cabinet approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ plan to conduct a number of workshops in preparation for the formulation of a Human Rights National Action Plan.
 
5. The Cabinet followed up on the progress of 91 development projects under implementation at a cost of BHD 413 million across three sectors: roads, sanitation and biuldings, an increase of 54% over the cost of projects that were implemented during the same period of 2019.
 
The Cabinet reviewed the memorandum, submitted by HE the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, which included the 35 tenders awarded during the first half of this year, valued at BHD 48 million,  and 44 bids, valued at BHD 102 million dinars, an increase of 37% over the projects offered during the first half of the year 2019.
 
6. The Cabinet approved a proposal regarding the allocation of housing units for individuals within the third district of the Northern Governorate, and allocating them from housing projects implemented in Budaiya, Al-Jasra, Hamala and Salman Town.
 
7. The Cabinet approved a proposal regarding the suspension of studies in public and private schools as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, which has already been achieved through decisions issued on the same subject earlier this year.
 
8. The Cabinet approved a proposal on the relocation of COVID-19 quarantine and isolation centres away from residential areas, which was achieved through the follow up of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus.
 
9. The Cabinet approved a proposal to ensure the ability of unemployed doctors and nurses, retirees, and paramedics to volunteer towards national efforts to combat COVID-19, which has already been achieved through past decisions taken in this regard.
 
10. The Cabinet approved a proposal to provide PPE protective wear and masks to doctors and individuals working in Health Centres under the Ministry of Health, which has already been achieved through past decisions taken in this regard.
 
In the item of Ministerial reports, the cabinet reviewed a report submitted by HE the Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs regarding the first “Arab Youth Priorities Conference”.