His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the people of Bahrain, as well as the families of the fallen servicemen, received the Cabinet's condolences.
As part of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition Forces along Saudi Arabia's southern border, Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) servicemen died while performing their national duty in Operation Restoring Hope.
During this difficult time, the Cabinet expressed its support for the family and wished speedy recovery to the injured servicemen. In addition to acknowledging the sacrifices made by the Kingdom's forces, the honourable sacrifices of the fallen servicemen will be etched forever in its history.
Bahrain's Cabinet also expressed gratitude to allied countries and international organizations for their support during this difficult time. The weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace was chaired yesterday by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Address of HM King
The Cabinet stressed the importance of His Majesty the King's address on the occasion of the Royal Order issued by His Majesty the King calling the Shura Council and Council of Representatives to convene for the second session of the sixth legislative term. It was expected that His Majesty the King's address would set the stage for national efforts in the next phase of the Kingdom's development and progress at the opening of the second session of the sixth legislative term of the Shura Council and Council of Representatives.
According to the Cabinet, the second session of the sixth legislative term showcases the Kingdom's continued commitment to national development, highlighting the need for continued cooperation between the Executive and Legislative Authorities, as well as building on the cohesion already achieved.
It would be remiss not to thank our teachers on the occasion of World Teachers' Day for their contributions to upskilling the youth in order to ensure their contributions to the Kingdom's comprehensive development. Teaching professionals were wished success in performing their duties and passing on their knowledge to future generations by the Cabinet.
A number of memorandums were approved by the Cabinet yesterday, including:
1. A memo from the Ministerial Committee for Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance approving the fiscal year 2023 closing dates.
2. Contributions and subscriptions of the Kingdom of Bahrain to international organisations as submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance.
3. The Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs submitted a memorandum regarding the provision of administrative assistance for Bahraini workers in labour lawsuits between the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and the Ministry of Labour.
4. A memo from the Ministry of Legal and Legislative Affairs on the method of preparing, studying, and finalizing Memoranda of Understanding.
5. A response to a law proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.
Following are the items reviewed by the Cabinet:
1. An economic report submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance for the second quarter of 2023. Based on the memorandum, the Kingdom's GDP grew by 2.0% on an annual basis at constant prices, supported by growth in the oil sector of 2.2% and growth in the non-oil sector of 2.0%.
2. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Bank of Bahrain and the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic on financial cooperation, provided by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.