FIFTY-FIVE cases of commercial concealment were referred to the Public Prosecution last year.
In a written response to Shura Council human rights committee chairman Ahmed Al Haddad, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani said that 99 CRs were originally found suspect following 1,180 inspections.
Most of the cases of commercial concealment were men’s salons, cold stores, electronics and mobile phone shops, restaurants, perfume and cosmetics outlets and car repair garages. Commercial concealment takes place when the sale or lease of a commercial shop is undocumented without a sales contract or a lease agreement for the shop for which the CR is issued.
“The National Concealment Campaign was launched in December 2020 in co-ordination with the Bahrain Chamber to protect Bahraini businesses from some nationals leasing their CRs to expatriates for financial gain,” said Mr Alzayani.
He added that some of these expatriates remitted abroad profits made from the businesses.
“We are not against foreign investment; the issue is about the illegal deals which has seen expats control some business activities leading to a monopoly which has damaged the market.”
He pointed out a number of Bahraini CR holders have been dragged to court, with some of them serving prison sentences because the expats fled the country.
“Financial commitments to banks and suppliers are the responsibility of the CR holder.
“We asked some of them to correct their status; unfortunately, 55 of the 99 suspect cases have been referred to the Public Prosecution.”
Meanwhile, Mr Alzayani said that Sijilat 3.0 (computerised CR issuance system) would be launched shortly streamlining 11 business procedures.
Nine procedures were streamlined in Sijilat 2.0.
l Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi said that there was a continuous and regular update of curricula to conform with local, regional and international advancements.
“We have introduced modernised IT, communications and artificial intelligence aided approaches in teaching to help us get knowledge, skills and thought across to students easier and effective,” he said, in response to a question.
He added that the new national strategy for curricula did not sacrifice focus on national values, such as citizenship, Arabic and Islamic studies, or international progress in sustainable development and exploration, or new teaching and assessment methods that are versatile, flexible and easy to adapt.
l Youth and Sports Minister Aymen Almoayyed said in a written response that the 100 pitches initiative launched in 2019 has resulted in 12 agreements being signed with companies to build the 39 community sports facilities.
“Nine pitches have been completed, work is ongoing for a further 13 and 16 are in the design stage, while one is under study,” said Mr Almoayyed.
The three replies will be presented during Sunday’s weekly session of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The Shura Council is also is set to debate amendments to the 2015 Commercial Registrations (CR) Law that would see closed and public shareholding companies listed under Bahrain Bourse.
Members will vote on amendments to the 2018 Competition Protection and Encouragement Law and amendments to the 2021 GCC Patent Law.
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