The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired the Cabinet's session held on Tuesday afternoon at Irqah Palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet reviewed the recent talks and discussions held between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and several countries on enhancing relations and building bridges of cooperation and developing them to serve common interests. The Cabinet followed up on the current developments in the regional and international arenas and efforts being exerted in this regard. The Cabinet affirmed Saudi Arabia's continued support for collective multilateral action within the framework of the principles of the UN and active participation in endeavors that can contribute to achieving a more stable and prosperous world. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of State, Cabinet's Member for Shura Council Affairs, and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said that the Cabinet reiterated welcome for the launch of the final phase of the political process in Sudan. The Cabinet affirmed that the Kingdom continues efforts with the Sudanese people and international partners within the Quad and the Friends of Sudan Group, to achieve stability and prosperity in Sudan. The Cabinet also considered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's participation in the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan as a confirmation of solidarity with Pakistan and its people in facing the ramifications of floods and an extension of what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided of support and contributions in the humanitarian field to assist affected people. The Cabinet also thanked Allah the Almighty for the blessings on this holy country and the honor to serve the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and for enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to welcome seven million Umrah performers to perform rituals in 2022 easily, and announcing resuming the numbers of pilgrims in the 1444 Hijri/2023 Hajj season to pre-pandemic rates. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions: First: Authorizing the Minister of Energy - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Ecuadorean and Colombian sides regarding two draft memorandums of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the governments of the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of Colombia for cooperation in the fields of energy. Second: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Cuban side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of environmental protection between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba. Third: Approving two agreements regarding the employment of domestic workers and laborers between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Fourth: Authorizing the Minister of Investment - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Indian side a draft program for framework cooperation between the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation of the Republic of India (Invest in India) to promote bilateral investment. Fifth: Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in health fields between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Sixth: Approving the Kingdom's accession to the Arab agreement to regulate passenger transport on roads between and across Arab countries. Seventh: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Public Prosecution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Public Prosecution of the Republic of Kenya in the field of investigation and public prosecution. Eighth: The Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing shall determine the basis for assessing municipal license issuance fees, on a (daily, weekly, monthly, and annual) basis based on his estimates in this regard. Ninth: Approving the national policy to promote the equality of opportunities and treatment in employment and occupation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tenth: According to Paragraph (One) of Article (Seventeen) of the Law of Eminent Domain and Temporary Taking of Property, issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 15) dated 3/11/1424H, the phrase "after handing over the property" refers to the act of handing over the property legally through documenting what happens to rights before a notary public or a judge, in addition to that the payment of expropriation compensation occurs after the property is handed over in this sense but prior to its evacuation. Eleventh: Approving the final account of King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries. Twelfth: Approving a number of promotions to the (15th) and (14th) ranks. The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures regarding them.
