PRIME MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS GOB ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000006 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB, NEA/ARP LABOR FOR JRUDE DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR FOR JBUNTIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016 TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV BA POL ECTRD SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS GOB ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AGENDA REF: A. 06 MANAMA 2004 ¶B. 06 MANAMA 1750 ¶C. 06 MANAMA 1418 CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM T. MONROE, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) PRIME MINISTER SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA DECEMBER 20 REVIEWED THE GOB'S 2007-2008 BUDGETARY PRIORITIES BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. KEY PRIORITIES HIGHLIGHTED BY THE PM INCLUDED PROGRAMS TO RAISE LIVING STANDARDS, EMPLOYMENT, AND WAGES. THE GOB AGENDA SHARES MUCH COMMON GROUND WITH THE ECONOMIC PLATFORM OF LEADING SHIA OPPOSITION SOCIETY AL WIFAQ, WHICH RECENTLY WON 40 PERCENT OF THE SEATS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT. EARLY GOVERNMENT-PARLIAMENT COOPERATION ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES COULD SET A POSITIVE TONE IN ADVANCE OF TOUGHER BATTLES AHEAD. END SUMMARY. -------------- BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS -------------- ¶2. (U) THE PM DECEMBER 20 REVIEWED THE GOB'S 2007-2008 BUDGETARY PRIORITIES BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE NEWLY-OPENED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, FOLLOWING RECENT LOWER HOUSE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES (COR) ELECTIONS AND NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE UPPER HOUSE SHURA COUNCIL. KEY GOB PRIORITIES HIGHLIGHTED BY THE PM INCLUDED PROGRAMS TO RAISE LIVING STANDARDS, EMPLOYMENT, AND WAGES. THE PM ALSO VOWED TO IMPROVE THE SPEED AND RESPONSIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES. "WE HAVE THE BIGGEST BUDGET IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY," HE SAID, NOTING THAT TWO-YEAR REVENUES HAD INCREASED FROM BD 2.5 BILLION ($6.7 BILLION) TO BD 3.3 BILLION ($8.9 BILLION) FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, AN INCREASE OF 32.4 PERCENT. SPENDING WILL INCREASE FROM BD 3.0 BILLION TO BD 3.7 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 22.6 PERCENT. (NOTE: OIL AND PETROLEUM PROCESSING REVENUES CURRENTLY ACCOUNT FOR SOME 76 PERCENT OF GOVERNMENT REVENUES.) -------------- HOUSING PUSH -------------- ¶3. (U) THE BUDGET ALLOCATES BD 200 MILLION TO INCREASE HOUSING AVAILABILITY IN THE NORTHERN GOVERNORATE. (NOTE: LOCATION OF MANY RELATIVELY POOR SHIA VILLAGES.) HOUSING PROJECTS HAVE ALSO BEEN LINED UP IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY AT A COST OF BD 415 MILLION. THESE PROJECTS CONTINUE A RECENT GOVERNMENT TREND OF INVESTING IN PUBLIC HOUSING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF HOMES. THE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDES AN EXTRA BD 30 MILLION FOR HOME LOAN FINANCING. IN ADDITION, FAMILIES ON THE HOUSING WAITING LIST FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE WILL RECEIVE A BD 100 MONTHLY SUBSIDY FOR HOUSING, WHICH WILL TOTAL BD 14 MILLION OVER THE NEXT YEAR (REF. C). -------------- BETTER LIVING THROUGH SUBSIDIES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM, SOME BD 193 MILLION WILL GO TO SUBSIDIZE FOOD, ELECTRICITY, WATER AND GASOLINE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN 2007. THE ALLOCATION JUMPS TO BD 212 MILLION FOR 2008. (NOTE: THE GOB HAS NOT INCREASED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED CONSUMER GASOLINE PRICES IN 23 YEARS. IN 2005, THE GAS PRICE CEILING AMOUNTED TO A BD 80 MILLION GAS SUBSIDY (REF. B).) -------------- PRIVATE INVESTMENT, LABOR RIGHTS HAILED -------------- ¶5. (U) THE PM PROMISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO SUBMIT DRAFT LEGISLATION MODERNIZING INVESTMENT LAWS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE INVESTOR CONFIDENCE, ENSURE BAHRAIN'S REGIONAL AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS, AND ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. ECHOING A GOB MESSAGE THAT CALLS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO TAKE THE LEAD AS BAHRAIN'S "ENGINE OF GROWTH," THE PM SAID THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY A LARGER ROLE IN THE ECONOMY. HE OBSERVED THAT SINCE 2002, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY LIBERALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND SEA PORTS. HE PRAISED POWER AND WATER PRIVATIZATIONS AND SAID THAT AS A RESULT, ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION WOULD INCREASE BY 54 PERCENT. HE PROJECTED THAT DESALINATED WATER PRODUCTION WOULD INCREASE BY 75 PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE PM ADDED THAT PRIVATIZATION WOULD NOT COMPROMISE WORKER RIGHTS. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH LABOR REFORM WITH A VIEW TOWARD RESTRUCTURING BAHRAIN'S LABOR MARKET, WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY DEPENDED ON CHEAP FOREIGN LABOR AT THE EXPENSE OF PROMOTING A MORE TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED, WELL-TRAINED, INDIGENOUS WORK FORCE. -------------- -- AL WIFAQ FORESHADOWS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSE -------------- -- ¶6. (U) A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE OF SIX COR DEPUTIES AND SIX SHURA MEMBERS WILL PRESENT AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE GOB BUDGET IN EARLY JANUARY, WITH AL WIFAQ MEMBERS EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RESPONSE. ACCORDING TO AL WIFAQ'S PUBLISHED PLATFORM, THE SOCIETY WILL FOCUS ON ATTRACTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, JOB CREATION, A STRONG PRIVATE SECTOR, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND WORKER PROTECTIONS, HOUSING, INCREASED WAGES, MORE EQUITABLE WEALTH DISTRIBUTION, AND IMPROVED TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IT CONDEMNS CORRUPTION IN THE BAHRAINI ECONOMY. AL WIFAQ SECRETARY GENERAL SHAIKH ALI SALMAN TOLD JOURNALISTS DECEMBER SIPDIS 3, "WE WILL WORK IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH OTHER POLITICAL SOCIETIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS COLLECTIVELY. NOW WE ARE A STRONG GROUP IN PARLIAMENT... WE WILL FOCUS ON BUILDING A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYBODY CAN HAVE A JOB, HOUSE, AND EDUCATION." ¶7. (C) NEWLY-ELECTED AL WIFAQ DEPUTY AND FINANCE AND ECONOMY COMMITTEE MEMBER DR. JASSIM HUSSAIN TOLD EMBOFFS DECEMBER 26 THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT THE ECONOMY AT THE TOP OF ITS AGENDA. HE PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR WORKING TO IMPROVE THE INVESTMENT REGIME, AND SAID COR DEPUTIES SHOULD WORK "HAND-IN-HAND" WITH BUSINESS TO SHAPE THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM. HE TOLD JOURNALISTS, "THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMY AND IT HAS A FRIEND IN AL WIFAQ." HE ADDED THAT AL WIFAQ WAS CONCERNED WITH ENSURING A MINIMUM STANDARD OF LIVING FOR BAHRAINIS. HE DOES NOT SUPPORT A MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE IT COULD PUT PRESSURE ON BOTH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CONSUMERS. INSTEAD, AL WIFAQ WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO LOW-INCOME BAHRAINIS TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR ELECTION MATERIALS, AL WIFAQ CANDIDATES RAN ON A PLATFORM OF USING THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES OF GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ILLS - UNEMPLOYMENT, LOW WAGES, HOUSING SHORTAGE, AND THE LIKE. THE GOVERNMENT, IN ITS PROGRAM PRESENTATION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HAS IDENTIFIED MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES AS PRIORITIES. WHILE MANY OBSERVERS FEAR RELATIONS AMONG PARLIAMENTARIANS AND BETWEEN THE COR AND GOVERNMENT COULD BE RIVEN WITH SUSPICION AND MISTRUST BASED UPON SUNNI-SHIA AND PRO-GOVERNMENT-OPPOSITION FAULT LINES, EARLY COOPERATION ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES COULD SET A POSITIVE TONE IN ADVANCE OF TOUGHER BATTLES THAT INEVITABLY LIE AHEAD. ********************************************* ******** VISIT EMBASSY MANAMA'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/NEA/MANAMA/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE