Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet''s Virtual Session

(MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) NEOM, May 26, 2021, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired on Tuesday the Cabinet's virtual session. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of consultations and talks that took place during the past days between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and several fraternal and brotherly countries. The talks dealt with regional and international relations and developments, with emphasis on standing with the international community in all that serves the security of the world and the restoration of peace. The Cabinet reviewed developments of the situation and political issues in the region, reaffirming that the Kingdom will continue its efforts at all levels to stop the Israeli measures and attacks by communicating with all relevant parties to exert pressure on the occupation government and to find a just settlement for the Palestinian issue; to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people in establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy decisions and the Arab Peace Initiative. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi stated that the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's support for the efforts aimed at preserving the security, stability, and well-being of Sudan, its brotherly people. In this regard, the Cabinet welcomed the fruitful outcomes of the International Conference to Support the Sudanese Transition. During the Conference, the Kingdom provided a grant to cover part of the financing gap for Sudan with the International Monetary Fund and transfer its balance in the emergency accounts and deferred fees at the Fund to deal with arrears and reduce the burden of debt. Summit on Financing African Economies The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's affirmation during the Summit on Financing African Economies, which was held in Paris, in terms of its continuing pioneering role in promoting development and investment in African countries, and its support for international and regional efforts to lay the foundations for security, stability, conflict resolution. Moreover, combating extremism and terrorist groups in the Sahel and Saharan countries and developing the security capabilities and helping the African countries out of the debt spiral, and guarantee these countries the ability to exploit their revenues and capabilities. Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet followed the COVID-19 pandemic developments regionally and internationally and the efforts made so that the curve of confirmed cases in the Kingdom return to the lowest point, as the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered reached 13 million throughout the Kingdom. He stressed the importance of continue adhering to precautionary measures. The Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results reached by each of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts The Cabinet decided the following: First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Fiqh Council of the Republic of Iraq. Second: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Tourism, or his deputy, to discuss and sign two draft memorandum of understanding in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and each of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, and French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Third: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Tourism, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a draft cooperation agreement to develop human capacity through e-learning between the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UN World Tourism Organization. Fourth: The Cabinet approved a multilateral memorandum of understanding on consultation, cooperation, and exchange of information between the regulators of capital markets in the Arab countries that are members of the Federation of Union of Arab Securities Authorities. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the amendment of the name of Events Center, issued by Cabinet Session No. (471) on 7/15/1441 AH to be the National Center for Events. Sixth: The Cabinet Amended Article (4) of the rules and procedures for rationalizing water consumption and regulating its use in agricultural fields in all cities and villages and desertion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, approved by Cabinet Session No. (335) on 9/11/1428 AH. Seventh: The Cabinet approved the appointment of two members to the Board of Directors of the National Center for Efficiency and Rationalization of Water. Eighth: The Cabinet obliged recruitment companies regarding domestic workers recruited by them, to insure the domestic worker's contract on behalf of the client, and recruitment offices and include the cost of insurance with the costs of the contract signed between the company or the office and the employer, for the first two years from the contract start date, after that, insurance will be optional for the employer when renewing the worker's resident permit (Iqama). Ninth: The social insurance system to include all workers in ministries and government agencies who are not subject to the civil retirement system, including those working under the system of temporary jobs or contracts, regardless of their length of service. Tenth: The Cabinet approved the organization of the Ministry of Investment. Eleventh: The Cabinet approved, in principle, that King Salman Humanitarian Aid And Relief Centre establish an endowment fund and submit the fund's draft organization to the Cabinet for approval. Twelfth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations. --SPA 00:14 LOCAL TIME 21:14 GMT 0001 MENAFN25052021000078011016ID1102135778