Cabinet supports govt’s mega project initiatives

Manama

The Cabinet re-affirmed the government’s support for mega projects that boost national industries and stimulate economic growth. 

The weekly Cabinet session, chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, welcomed the construction of the Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba)’s sixth smelter, being an important and pioneering achievement in the field of aluminium industry and the manufacturing industries emanating from it.

The construction works of the project, costing US$3.5 billion, including $2.5bn for the smelter and one billion dollars for the company’s fifth power station, will start in the first half of 2016, and production will begin in 2018, Deputy Premier and Board Chairman of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa told the session. 

“The project will increase Alba’s annual production by about 514,000 metric tons,” he added.

The Cabinet also lauded the National Assembly’s achievements over the first session of the fourth legislative term, adjourned recently as per an Order by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

Those accomplishments, including mainly the approval of the Government Action Plan (GAP) and the general state budget for the two fiscal years 2015-2016, were attained thanks to the fruitful executive-legislative cooperation, the Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al Nasser said in a statement following the session.

Net fishing near coasts

In another context, HRH the Prime Minister instructed the competent sides at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to take necessary measures to prevent drag net fishing near the coasts of Askar, Jaw and Al Dour villages and make sure fishermen take enough distance away from coasts when resorting to that method. 

The aim is to preserve marine life and resources, and maintain other fishermen’s livelihoods. 

The Prime Minister also directed to study reducing the crab fishing ban period from four months to two. 

On education

The Cabinet agreed to evaluate the results of the National Project to Develop Education and Training in collaboration with an international house of experience, in line with the recommendations of the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training outlined in the memorandum submitted by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.

The session also approved the results of the 19th batch of the review of the performance of education and training institutions issued by the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training (QQA), including 13 high education academic programmes and the performance follow-up of five vocational training institutions. 

It also approved the results of the 2015 National Exams for grade 12, and other QQA reports.

The session also discussed four agreements on short-stay visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, avoidance of double taxation, air transportation, encouraging and protecting investments, and a memorandum of understanding on economic, trade and technical cooperation between Bahrain and Azerbaijan. The agreements and the MoU were referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

The session referred to the Council of Representatives a draft law on amending some provisions of Law of Associations, Social and Cultural Clubs, Special Committees Working in the Field of Youth and Sports and Private Institutions promulgated by Decree-Law 21 /1989. A proposal was discussed to launch a campaign across schools to promote the teaching of the Holy
Quran.