I. Headlines:
· Bahrain looking forward to seeing secure & stable Yemen.
· Foreign Affairs Minister due to partake in meeting of GCC Foreign Affairs Ministers
· Batelco signs agreement with GBI to provide Bahrain with better connectivity with the world.
· Four Seasons project carries $300m economic benefits.
II. Political:
Bahrain looking forward to seeing secure & stable Yemen.
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, met yesterday with the outgoing Yemeni Ambassador to Bahrain Dr. Ali Mansoor bin Safa'a at Riffa Palace. HRH the Crown Prince stressed Yemen's importance as an essential part of the Arab world and expressed keenness on concerted efforts to succeed in bringing about security and stability in Yemen. Therefore HRH emphasized all are concerned to help Yemen overcome all challenges in order to achieve the aspirations of its people. Both sides also discussed the ways of further boosting bilateral brotherly relations that connects the two brotherly countries since so many ages before.
Foreign Affairs Minister due to partake in meeting of GCC Foreign Affairs Ministers
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa will be participating tomorrow in the ministerial council of the GCC Foreign Affairs Ministers during its regular session No.123 due to be convened in Jeddah City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting is presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal. The GCC Foreign Affairs Ministers shall explore during their meeting the recommendations of their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries regarding implementing the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pertaining to moving from the phase of cooperation to the phase of Gulf unity.
GCC Traffic Officials Hold Meeting.
The GCC Traffic general-directors held their 29th meeting yesterday in Bahrain. the meeting aims at enhancing joint security and traffic march, as it was declared in the opening statement. The Bahrain General Director of Traffic Colonel Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Sabah Al-Khalifa welcomed the participating delegations wishing, them success in accomplishing more coordination, integration and cooperation in the various fields.He asserted that the meeting is a continuation of the efforts exerted by GCC countries for the purpose of enhancing cooperation and coordination among them.
III. Economic, Trade, Business:
Batelco signs agreement with GBI to provide Bahrain with better connectivity with the world.
Batelco, Bahrain’s leading communications company has signed an agreement with Gulf Bridge International (GBI) to connect Bahrain through International Capacity on GBI’s new cable system. GBI however, is the Middle East’s first privately owned company that utilizes fiber optic cable technology to connect with the world. Batelco is the landing partner in Bahrain for the new cable system as part of an agreement signed between the two major companies.
Four Seasons project carries $300m economic benefits.
The Four Seasons Hotel project is estimated to result in direct and indirect economic benefits for Bahrain that will equal approximately $300million over the next five to seven years, with GCC tourism expected to contribute strongly to these benefits, the developers said yesterday said. Management team of this Project also has confirmed that the project is currently ahead of schedule, with the fifth level of towers now completed and logged over 500,000 accident-free working hours on site. Contractor Six Construct, who have developed major projects in the region such as the Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), Khalifa Stadium (Doha) and Bahrain’s North Manama Causeway, have a 1200-strong team, who are utilizing a two-shift-work pattern to optimize project completion.
BBK-BMI inks BD18m facility for Arabian Sugar Co.
BBK and BMI Bank signed a major BD 18 million financing facility for Bahrain-based Arabian Sugar Company (ABC). As part of the agreement, BBK will be acting as the facility agent bank whilst BMI Bank would be the security agent, documentation bank and investment agent for the facility. Arabian Sugar Company will be a computerized, state-of-the-art sugar refinery. When the first phase of the project is fully operational the facility will produce over 600,000 tons of high quality sugar per annum. The project aims to supply the Bahraini and GCC markets. This is an important food security project for Bahrain and one which is fully in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision. It will provide a secure source of sugar as well as ensuring price stability for this important commodity.
IV. Social, Culture, Tourism:
IAA President Asks Al Mawda to Conduct a Study on Building a Bahraini Media Museum.
Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa the President of the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) received yesterday Saqer bin Abdulla Al Mawda who informed him about his book entitled “Bahrain in the Press of the Past.” Shaikh Fawaz praised the tremendous efforts exerted by Saqr Al Mawda in compiling such a valuable book containing important information on Bahrain's history, as depicted by local journalism from 1899 to 1977, wishing him further success. He also asked him to conduct a comprehensive study on building a special museum to document the Bahraini media's achievements and the phases it has gone through.
V. Photo of the Day:
* Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa received yesterday the GCC traffic general directors on the occasion of their 29th meeting which convened here in Bahrain. 4rd June 2012 Al-Wasat.
Issued by:
Embassy of Malaysia
MANAMA,
5th June 2012