Bahrain Cabinet which met on Sunday approved a draft Decree-law to raise the debt-ceiling from BD2.5 billion to BD3.5 billion (an increase of BD1billion or $2.7billion) by amending Decree-law 15 for 1977 on issuing development bonds using Islamic law-compliant financing tools.
The meeting presided over by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa who instructed all ministries and government bodies to speed up the implementation of the visions agreed upon at the National Consensus Dialogue.
This came as he chaired, at the Gudaibiya Palace, the Cabinet regular weekly meeting the most of which he dedicated for the follow up of the implementation of the National Dialogue’s visions related to pay rise, improving living standards and enhancing internal auditing and good governance.
The Cabinet endorsed a draft Decree-Law amending some provisions of Law (9) for the year 2011 on approving the State Budget for the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 in order to open an additional appropriation of BD325 million in order to cover the salary increases for 2011 and 2012.
The Cabinet discussed creating new sources of revenue that can finance the recent pay rise package, in line with memorandum submitted by the Finance Minister in this regard.
The Cabinet referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Econimic Affairs and the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs a draft decree-law amending some provisions of Law 19 for 2006 regulating the labour market.
Regarding the development of internal auditing procedures and good governance, included in the National Dialogue’s agreed upon views, the cabinet was briefed by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa on what has been done so far regarding HRH Premier’s directives to ministries and government bodies to implement the recommendations made by the National Financial and Administrative Audit Court (NFAAC) in its report for the year 2009.
The cabinet was assured that many sides complied with NFAAC’s recommendations and urged the rest to speed up the implementation of them, calling upon all government bodies to take the necessary actions in order to avert the reoccurrence of those irregularities.
The Cabinet decided to establish a Committee to follow up the Kingdom’s adherence to the resolutions issued by the UN Security Council.
The panel, chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and comprising the representatives from different ministries and government bodies, is in line with the kingdom’s keenness to fulfill its obligations outlined by UN Charter.
As far the business situation in the kingdom is concerned, the Cabinet was assured that it is on the right track of recovery, asserting that the trade and economic atmospheres are winning back the confidence of local and foreign investors, which is a living proof of the Kingdom’s distinguished competitive potentials and ability to woo investments.
The Industry and Commerce Minister Dr. Hassan Abdulla Fakhro also presented a memo in which he asserted that the economic activity in the Kingdom has restored normality and basic food products are available.
The Cabinet was also briefed by the Energy Minister Dr. Abdulhussein bin Ali Mirza on the preparations made by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) to meet the growing demand for electricity this summer and the measures it has taken to reduce power cuts and uprgrade the quality of its services.