SME support plan

The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday issued directives to favour the Kingdom’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) while carrying out government bidding and procurement processes. This came as HRH the Premier directed to expand the scope of the advantages granted to SMEs from the part of government departments and entities.

The session decided, based on a memorandum prepared by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs and presented by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman, that the 10 percent advantage enjoyed by SMEs in the biddings of government departments should also cover tenders.

Among other things, the Cabinet approved a recommendation by the Civil Service Bureau to re-structure the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry and the Bahrain National Space Science Agency (NSSA). According to a memorandum submitted by the Deputy Premier and Deputy Chairman of the Civil Service Council, there will be four assistant undersecretaries instead of six, and 12 directorates instead of 14 at the ministry.

With regard to NSSA, there will be a chief executive officer and four directorates. The Cabinet was informed about the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA)’s preparations and measures to meet the requirements of the summer season regarding the sufficiency of water and electricity production and the efficiency of their distribution, through the inauguration of new lines and stations, as well as the maintenance of the current lines and updating of contingency plans.