Premier issues directives to streamline travel ban norms

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, at the Cabinet  session yesterday,  reviewed the implementation process of procedures aimed at accelerating the issuance of licences for investors as well as building permits, and removing all obstacles leading to their delay. 

The session was informed about the procedures taken by the relevant sides in this regard.

On judiciary, the Prime Minister issued directives to streamline procedures for citizens, residents and visitors who are under travel bans as per court orders for the non-payment of fines. The Prime Minister called for allowing them to pay those sums at Bahrain International Airport, using e-services, to lift their travel bans, and activate the mechanisms approved by the Executive Committee, chaired by the Crown Prince, in this regard. 

The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister briefed the session on the procedures implemented in this respect.

On health, the Premier reviewed the procedures in force that regulate treatment abroad, instructing the Health Ministry to intensify programmes to bring specialised international medical experts to treat patients in the Kingdom, stressing that treatment abroad should be confined to difficult cases that could not be treated by visiting medical experts.

The session welcomed the broadening of cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia, citing the bilateral agreements highlighted in a report submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs about his recent visit to Moscow.

The session decided to add 13 Arab and African countries to the list of countries whose citizens are allowed to get entry e-visas to the Kingdom, which raises the number of those countries to 113. The move, approved by the Executive Committee, led by the Crown Prince, was highlighted in the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Interior.

The Cabinet also approved the Air Services Agreement between Bahrain and Georgia, and commissioned the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications to sign it on behalf of the Kingdom.

The session discussed a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on the working hours in Jidd Hafs Health Centre, and approved the government’s reply to it as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

On ministerial reports, the session took note of the high-level meet on Neutrality, hosted recently by Turkmenistan, through a report by the Foreign Affairs Minister in this regard.

The session was also informed about the results of the 95th meeting of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum-Exporting Countries held recently in Cairo, through a report by the Energy Minister. The Industry and Commerce Minister also presented a report on the outcomes of the 10th ministerial conference of the WTO  held recently in Nairobi.