Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday.
At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments at the regional and international arenas, the Kingdom's stand on them and contents of talks, consultations and contacts held over the previous days with a number of officials of brotherly and friendly countries.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Iyad bin Amin Madani, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Cabinet expressed its confidence that the next Gulf Consultative Summit due to be held in Riyadh will yield concrete results in terms of uniting Gulf actions and enhancing convergence of member countries visions on political and economic issues of concern to the region and the world.
Briefed on a report of the annual Energy Summit recently held in Washington, the United States of America, the Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's pledges and commitments to maintaining the stability of oil supplies and prices, and to increasing its oil production as required by the factors of supply and demand in the world oil markets in the interest of producers and consumers alike. The Cabinet noted that world efforts should also accompany the Kingdom's efforts to meet the demands and confront the challenges of the world energy and to achieve a balance and stability in the world oil markets.
The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Cabinet decided that the current National Identity Smart Card be considered among the basic elements of the applications of electronic government and its services according to the measures and steps stated in the decision. The new Electronic Smart Card will show on one of its two sides the photograph of its bearer, which is automatically printed and smartly laminated and protected from being scratched or damaged by water or other means. The other side of the card is simply a portable computer that could store numerous patterns of information relating to its holder or one's family members. Computer-wise, it is readable and useable in courts, at banks and hotels, etc. Later, the personal finger print of its holder will be added to it to avoid forgery and misuse.
The Cabinet approved the draft framework agreement for economic, investment and technical cooperation between the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council on one hand and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the other to pave the way for negotiations to set up a free trade zone between the two parties.
The Cabinet ratified the statute of the Standards organization for the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council upon recommendations of the Minister of Commerce and Industry who is also Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization.
The Minister of Transport or his deputy is authorized to discuss with the Singaporean side a draft agreement for cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore in the field of maritime transportation which aims at enhancing and developing maritime transportation between the two countries and at promoting and facilitating commercial vessels' traffic. The minister or his deputy is also authorized to later sign the agreement before forwarding it for further authentication.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Saud bin Mubarak bin Abdullah Alrafee'a as Administrative Consultant at the Ministry of Health and the transfer of Abdulrahman bin Saad bin Salih Alobaisi from the Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, to the post of Legal Consultant at the Control and Investigations Commission.
