Government projects worth millions of dinars are open to foreign investments, according to a senior minister.

These projects include the BD394 million Bahrain Northern Link Road that will extend over 22km between Manama and Salman Town and upon completion will connect the two towns.

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf pitched major developments in roads, sanitation and infrastructure to foreign companies and international contractors yesterday. He was speaking at a meeting organised by theAmerican Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

“The main goal of this meeting is to introduce AmCham’s business community to the ministry’s current and future projects and plans,” he told the GDN on the sidelines.

“This type of dialogue with businessmen aims to encourage foreign investment in the ministry’s projects and initiatives and to push the kingdom’s economic wheel forward.“These projects are aimed at boosting Bahrain’s economy and creating job opportunities for citizens.“

For these major projects, as a ministry we want to encourage these companies because we want their expertise.”

He said the BD394m project was a strategic link to future developments in Bahrain and highlighted that the causeway and road network will reinvent how residents travel throughout the kingdom. He added that the second phase of the North Manama Causeway, to be tendered this year, will include more than 21km of new roads, 11 junctions, and a new signature bridge while a large section of the network will be situated in the water for which land reclamation has commenced.

Projects also include the BD179m Sports City aimed at creating an integrated sports city that includes all facilities and infrastructure located in the vicinity of Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.  It will include an international football stadium adhering to the latest international specification and the capacity to accommodate 50,000 spectators as well as training pitches, an Olympic pool and other facilities.

“These events are in linewith our mission which is to increase trade, investment and finance between Bahrain and the US and to try and bring to the table US companies interested in Bahrain be it in infrastructure, trade and commerce or investment,” said AmCham president Qays Zu’bi.

“The ministry is the construction arm of the government with an extensive portfolio of projects across key sectors and implementation requires rigour, responsiveness, flexibility and a high degree of co-ordination between development partners.”

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Justin Siberell highlighted the importance of the event as it provides an opportunity for AmCham members to meet leading policy-makers in Bahrain.

“American businesses, especially in the engineering, design and construction field have played very important roles in the growth of the kingdom and we always like to hear what the minister has to say and what the new opportunities might be for expanding the involvement of American companies and businesses in Bahrain.”

Roads projects cited also include improvements to inner roads such as Avenue 23 in Tubli as well as Rayya Highway, and the widening of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway and improvements to the intersection with Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Highway and more.reem@gdn.com.bh

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