Bahrain to sign contracts for housing projects

Manama, Aug. 22 (BNA): The Bahraini government, represented by the Housing Ministry, will sign on Tuesday contracts to carry out housing projects worth more than $ 395 million funded by the Gulf Development Programme. The signing will take place under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministerial Committee for Construction and Infrastructure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. Seven contracts will be concluded by the Housing Ministry, represented by Housing Minister Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar, and Bahraini, Kuwaiti, Emirati and international contracting companies. The signing ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will be attended by representatives from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development ((KFAED), ministers, senior officials and invitees. The UAE side will be represented by the UAE Ambassador to Bahrain Abdul Redha Abdullah Al Khouri while the Kuwaiti side will be represented by KFAED Deputy Director General Hamad Suleiman Al Umr. The Housing Minister said the $ 293 million Kuwait-funded projects consist in building 1247 housing units in east Hidd, the construction of another 1645 housing units and implementing infrastructure work in Hidd. Meanwhile, three contracts will be signed to carry out housing and infrastructure projects worth more than $ 102 million funded by the UAE. The Housing Minister praised the Gulf Development Programme and its role in fast-tracking projects and reducing the waiting period, in line with the royal order to provide 40,000 for citizens by implementing housing projects nationwide. He also lauded the government’s efforts to translate the royal order in its work programme by including 25,000 housing units in the next four years as a first phase. He also commended progress in the distribution programme of 3000 housing units across Bahrain in line with an order by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. The minister thanked Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for his unrelenting efforts through the Ministerial Committee for Construction and Infrastructure to tackle the housing issue and meet citizens’ needs. He also commended the generous support of the UAE and Kuwait as well as the support of Saudi Arabia which reflects cohesion and cooperation between the GCC brethren.