His Royal Highness, Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, has urged the trade community to protect their business through supporting the government’s efforts to implement the recommendations of the National Assembly.
He said that some sides are staging acts of violence and terrorism in order to destabilize the kingdom and harm the national economy, noting that those acts will affect the government as well as the trade sector, and therefore, merchants and traders should make their voice heard and reject violence and terrorism in order to safeguard security and stability and maintain economic development.
“We have to join ranks in order to achieve the goals of the recommendations submitted by the Bahraini people through its representatives to toughen penalties on criminals and protect community from terrorism,” he said.
“There is no leader as close and interested in achieving his people’s aspirations as HM the King,” he underlined, noting that “What is going on in Bahrain nowadays has nothing to do with reform or living standards demands, but it is a foreign agenda implemented by local agents for the aim of disrupting our stability through violence and terrorism. Nevertheless, we will never be dragged to confrontations, but we will inflict severe punishment and enforce the law, just as the Bahraini people wanted.”
This came as HRH Prime Minister paid a visit to the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) where he met its Chairman and members.
“The stability of our country, development of our economy and well-being of our people enjoy top priority in our daily work,” he said, adding that “those who want to sow divisions among us will not succeed because the Bahraini people are our first source of strength and frontline defender of our fundamentals.”
HRH Prime Minister pointed out that the government encourages all initiatives aiming to consolidate national unity and cohesion and ensure that those who seek to undermine security and stability are faced with severe laws, noting that development is not possible without stability.
He praised traders’ patriotic stances throughout the kingdom’s history, calling upon today’s traders to follow in the steps of their ancestors and voice their own stances so as to play a more effective role in national affairs, along with their economic one.
“If we leave the problem of terrorism un-addressed, the landmark economic achievements attained by both the government and traders will fall apart,” he said, noting that the government will continue cooperating will all sectors in taking anti-terror procedures.
HRH Premier emphasized that consolidation of the national economy requires a secure and stable environment that can attract capitals and investors, and therefore, the government is keen to implement the recommendations of the National Assembly as soon as possible.
“Thanks to its loyal citizens, Bahrain is capable of eliminating terrorism and maintaining its national unity and social cohesion,” he said, adding that businessmen and traders can enhance national unity through directing national potentials positively in order to reflect positively on the nation and the citizens.
He affirmed that the government will continue updating legislations, and supporting the trade sector through providing incentives that consolidate its role and increase its contributions to the Kingdom’s GDP.
He lauded BCCI’s efforts to protect the interests of the trade sector and the pioneering role it has played to upgrade national economy throughout history.
On their part, BCCI Chairman and members extended sincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude to HRH Premier for the visit testifying to his constant keenness to support the trade sector and stimulate it in order to play a greater role in the development march witnesses by the kingdom at all levels.
They voiced full-fledged support to all the measures to be taken by the wise leadership to eliminate terrorism, pledging that they will stand united against any attempt to undermine the security and stability of the homeland.