Bahrain will launch a five-year information strategy designed to promote unity and reform, while also emphasising the importance of security and stability, said a top government official.

"The strategy will begin this year and continue until 2018," Minister of State for Information Affairs and Official Government Spokeswoman Sameera Rajab was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"It is based on three main points that are the pillars on which all of the 45 initiatives and programmes are built on,” Rajab said during a Press conference following Cabinet's session.

"We are aiming to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation to the media and communications sector to develop it to promote national unity and reform, emphasise security and stability, as well as the spirit of harmony and tolerance and contribute to the spread of awareness and knowledge in the community.

"There are also plans to showcase His Majesty King Hamad's reforms and the government's achievements, as well as its efficiency, the process of modernisation and sustainable development for public opinion at both national and international levels."

She said plans were underway to develop communication channels between government bodies and the media.

"The future vision requires making the media and communications sector an attractive investment field that is able to achieve an added value," she said.

"We are looking to make information an element of diversification to the national revenue and a part of the various national economic activities."

Rajab said the strategy, which is the first of its type in Bahrain, was in line with the government's blueprint to improve services.

"We are looking for an information sector that is new, modern and developed and for that we have asked for the Cabinet's backing to help us transform it into reality," she said.

"One aspect that is part of the strategy is having a new information law approved and we are announcing that it is near completion, which would include developing the pay and employment structure of those in the field amongst other benefits and incentives.

"It is unfortunate I can't give more details about the strategy because the ministerial committee, which will now revise it, may decide to decrease or increase powers and ambitions that I have drawn up,” she added.

The strategy, which contains 45 initiatives and programmes, was yesterday approved by the Cabinet, but referred to the concerned ministerial committee for further study. – TradeArabia News Service