Bahrain will continue on development path: minister
MANAMA, February 9, 2021
Bahrain's Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa stressed kingdom’s resolve to continue to achieve desired development goals despite the challenges facing the kingdom and the world due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
During a remote meeting with editors in chief of local newspapers, the minister outlined the preliminary financial results for 2020, stressing the importance of stepping up cooperation and coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government and putting citizens’ interest above all considerations, a Bahrain News Agency report said.
The results showed that the 2020 revenues were BD2.139 billion -- BD 807 million less than the budgeted BD2.946 billion. The expenditure came at BD3.763 billion, an increase of BD9 million compared with the budgeted BD3.754 billion.
The deficit rose by BD817 million from budgeted BD807 million to BD1.624 billion, said the report.
“The preliminary financial results achieved during 2020 compared to the 2020 budget reflected the government's commitment to public expenditure levels compared to previous levels, despite the increase in emergency and emerging expenditures related to confronting the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic”, he said.
He said that the Ministry of Finance and National Economy is moving forward to implement all its plans and initiatives and seek to achieve the aspirations of citizens as they are the focus of development and its primary goal.
Shaikh Salman lauded the role and contributions of local newspapers as an essential partner in achieving all national initiatives and programmes of the development march, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
