Bahrain GDP growing by 4.5pc

Manama : Bahrain has shown steady economic indicators during the first quarter of the year with the Gross Domestic Product growing by 4.5 per cent compared to Q1/2015. 

The details were revealed during the weekly Cabinet session, chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, while reviewing the economic indicators for the first quarter of 2016.

Meanwhile, the trade deficit went down by 37pc and the inflation rate remains stable at 2.8pc. Also, the volume of domestic and foreign investments reached BD254 million, marking an increase of 1.3pc, according to the figures.

A total of 61 industrial projects, worth BD1.3 billion, have been approved, and 58 permits, worth BD1.3bn, granted during the first quarter of 2016.

The industrial projects are expected to generate 1,520 job opportunities, including 733 for Bahrainis, said Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister in the memorandum he had presented during the session.

Eker attack condemned

According to a statement by Secretary General of the Cabinet Dr. Yasser bin Essa Al Naser following the session, the Council of Ministers condemned the treacherous terror attack, which occurred in East Eker.

The session affirmed the continuity of the government’s firm measures against people who fund terrorist outfits and provide a religious and political cover for it. 

Later, the Cabinet welcomed the election of Bahrain, represented by Amal Salman Al-Dosary, as an independent expert at the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for a four-year term (2017-2021).

The session then discussed the Kingdom’s ratification of the Statute of the Arab Court for Human Rights, highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Foreign Affairs Minister. It was later referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study.

In this regard, the Cabinet recalled with pride and appreciation the proposal of HM King Hamad to set up an Arab Court for Human Rights whose Statute was approved by the Arab League’s Council.