RIYADH: Saudi ministers met on Tuesday to hear an update on the COVID-19 pandemic and urged the public to continue adhering to the preventive measures.

The government was meeting virtually as a result of the pandemic. 

The ministers also condemned the car bomb attack in the Afghanistan province of Logar, which left 21 dead. The Kingdom said it stands with Afghanistan against all forms of terrorism, whatever its motives and justifications. 

The Cabinet authorized the commerce minister, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises to discuss a draft MoU between KSA’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises and the Small Industries Development Bank of India.

The Cabinet also licensed the National Bank of Iraq to open a branch in Saudi Arabia.

The Cabinet also authorized the interior minister to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding between the Directorate General of Border Guard at the ministry and Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport, an affiliate of the Arab League.

The General Authority of Zakat and Tax and the General Authority of Customs will be merged into a single entity named Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, it was announced during the meeting.

Other decisions taken by the Cabinet include the accession of the Kingdom to the International Coral Reef Initiative, the approval of a regulation on job-seeking subsidy and approval of a MoU signed between the food and drug authorities of the Kingdom and Indonesia.

The session was chaired by King Salman who prayed for the nation and Muslims around the world during the remaining few days of the holy month of Ramadan.