Economic indicators show positive sign

Manama : The Cabinet reviewed a range of economic indicators for the second quarter of 2016, notably headline growth of 2.6pc and the increase in the amount of domestic and foreign investment by BD722 million, which reflects a percentage increase of 3.5pc. 

Moreover, 34 industrial permits have been issued for projects worth over BD30m, which will see the creation of 1,244 jobs, and 51 industrial projects worth over BD26m have been initially approved. The rate of inflation had also not changed from 2015.

“Economic indicators prepared by government authorities should be used for enhancing the government’s ability to plan future initiatives,” said Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa while chairing the Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday.

HRH Crown Prince instructed ministries and authorities to adopt initiatives that promote excellence and support high-quality standards across all government sectors, particularly within the education sector. 

Prince Salman also recalled his recent visit to Amna bint Wahab School and cited it as an example of excellence within the Kingdom. The Crown Prince noted that the school was awarded the Quality of Education Award at the Government Forum 2016 for obtaining an outstanding grading over three consecutive years.

Taking up the cudgels for rivers, Prince Salman instructed to increase controls and strengthen mechanisms to combat any pollution in the Kingdom’s waters, resulting from oil spillage caused by tankers and ships. 

In this regard, the Cabinet approved a memorandum on Bahrain’s accession to both the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 Convention and its amendments and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001. 

The Cabinet also approved the registration of a number of ships owned by non-Bahrainis in line with the Maritime Law and its amendments following a presentation by the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications.

The Crown Prince then directed the Cabinet to provide all necessary services to the ports in Bahrain, which is in line with the National Strategic Master Plan.