Cabinet OKs gov't action plan for 15th Legislative Term '16/'17-'19/'20

KUWAIT, March 5 (KUNA) -- The cabinet on Monday approved and referred to the National Assembly the government's action plan for the 15th Legislative Term 2016/2017-2019/2020, after detailed discussions.
Meeting at Bayan Palace under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the ministers highly appreciated the Supreme Council for Planning and Development and other official agencies for their sincere efforts on the plan.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who heads the ministerial committee that prepared the plan had briefed the ministers on the program.
He explained the expectations the program would seek to fulfill, namely restoring Kuwait's leading regional status as a trade and financial hub, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh after the meeting.
Other goals include reviving the private sector's pivotal role as a locomotive of development, and supporting empowerment of labor, production and overall human development, Sheikh Nasser said.
Issues given priority on the state's agenda cover developing government management and consolidating its effectiveness and efficiency, building knowledge economy, structural reform of the economy, economic and financial sustainability, development projects and promoting human capital infrastructure.
In addition, the program covers the legislative requirements that can ensure full and adequate implementation of the government's action plan, Sheikh Nasser noted.
He referred to the basic references of the program, namely the speeches of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Premier to the First and Second Sessions of the National Assembly's 15th Legislative Terms, as well as "Kuwait Vision 2035" that aims to turn the country into a trade and financial hub.
He briefed the meeting on the executive and technical aspects of the plan.
As the meeting kicked off, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah apprised the ministers of the outcome of a recent visit to Kuwait by the US envoy, retired US Marine Corps Gen, Anthony Zinni to Kuwait.
Talks have addressed the Gulf row and the efforts to contain it, besides arrangements for the US-GCC summit slated for May, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said.
Also today, the cabinet discussed the agenda of the National Assembly.
Reviewing political developments on the Arab and international scenes, the ministers praised Bahrain's security authorities for capturing scores of suspected terrorists, foiling plans to destabilize the Kingdom.
The cabinet reiterated Kuwait's support to Bahrain and whatever measures Manama might take to protect the Kingdom's security and stability.
By the same token, the cabinet condemned the recent "terrorist" attacks that hit Burkina Faso claiming the lives of scores of innocent people.
The ministers reaffirmed Kuwait's utter rejection of all forms of terrorism. (end) msa