The Deputy Prime Minister chairs the weekly Cabinet Meeting

Manama, July 17 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the weekly cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.

On the occasion of the new Hijri year 1445 AH, the Cabinet expressed its best wishes to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and citizens and residents. Bahrain, as well as to all other Arab and Islamic countries.

The Cabinet emphasized the importance of the official visit of His Royal Highness to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where His Highness met with His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Honor Rishi Sunak MP, and other senior officials.

The Cabinet affirmed its commitment to speed up the implementation of the agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during the visit, which will contribute to advancing cooperation between the two countries in the economic, investment, financial, banking, educational and training fields.

The Cabinet praised the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2022 issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last Thursday, which lifted the name of the Kingdom of Bahrain from the list of countries classified among the priority countries for human rights.

The report’s output reflects the Kingdom’s achievements in the field of human rights in light of the comprehensive development led by His Majesty the King and with the support of His Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The Council of Ministers followed up the preparations for Ashura in the Kingdom’s governorates, indicating the efforts of the Ministry of Interior, ministries and other concerned authorities to meet all the requirements of Ashura.

The Cabinet reviewed the memorandum of the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and the Balance of Public Finance, which covers the quarterly economic report of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first quarter of 2023. According to the report, the non-oil sector recorded a growth of 3.5%. % year on year at constant prices, and the overall economy achieved an annual growth of 2.0% at constant prices.

During the meeting, the Cabinet discussed several memorandums approving the following:

1. A memorandum from the Minister of Interior regarding the establishment of a special platform for the exchange of information between the GCC countries to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related crimes.

2- A memorandum of the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs regarding the government’s response to 10 proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, and a proposed law by the Shura Council.

The Cabinet reviewed the memorandum of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture regarding the decisions of municipal councils in the Kingdom for the first session of the sixth municipal term (December 2022 to June 2023).

Finally, the Cabinet referred to the following ministerial reports:

1. Results of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s participation in the sixth joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the countries of the Cooperation Council and the Russian Federation.

2. The official visit of the Minister of Transport and Communications to the Swiss Confederation.

HF