Bahrain launches electronic “Government Land Investment Platform”

Manama, Apr. 7 (BNA): The Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and Urban Planning, HE Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf noted the role that the Government Land Investment Platform's launch will play in strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors and promoting transparency. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the minister introduced the new platform; one of the initiatives in the Economic Recovery Plan launched in October 2021, which comprised five priorities including simplifying and increasing the efficiency of commercial procedures. The new platform will showcase government lands available for investment in a transparent and innovative manner. Minister Khalaf noted that the first batch of 17 government plots available for investment have been listed on the platform, with a total area of 230,814.20 square meters. The Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, stressed that the platform will aid in the implementation of the National Real Estate Plan (2021-2024). HE further explained that the platform will facilitate real estate investment by listing available government plots with details of the investment opportunities they present. For her part, the Undersecretary for National Economy at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, HE Amna Ahmed Al Romaihi noted that the launch of the Government Land Investment Platform is a milestone in the government’s work to find innovative solutions to facilitate investments by the private sector. HE Al Romaihi explained that the details of the listed plots will be readily available and accessible online at (investmentlands.gov.bh) and that public auctions will be held through the Bahrain Tender Board, which has been linked to the new platform, to ensure fair and transparent procedures. Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company's (Edama) CEO, Amin Al-Arrayedh, stressed that the platform's launch showcases the government’s interest in developing the real estate sector and attracting investment. For his part, the CE of the Economic Development Board (EDB), Khalid Humaidan, affirmed that the government is working closely with the private sector to enhance investment opportunities. He stated that the Government Land Investment Platform will drive development forward by bringing about more economic growth. There are currently 17 plots available for investment on the Government Land Investment Platform through auctions. Seven are owned by the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning, spanning an area of 52,785.70 square meters, three are owned by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, with a total area of 151,693.50 square meters, while the remaining seven are owned by Edama and cover an area of 26,335 square meters. For more information on available government lands for investment please visit investmentland.gov.bh.