Ministry of Housing Signs Agreement with Chinese Firm CMEC in Beijing to Build 1,269 Housing Units

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning of Bahrain has signed an agreement with the Chinese company CMEC to carry out the third and final phase of the Sitra Housing Project. The signing ceremony occurred during a working meeting in Beijing, China, chaired by Her Excellency Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, and Wang Bo, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CMEC.
 
Minister Al Rumaihi remarked on the ongoing growth and strengthening of cooperation and joint coordination between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the People's Republic of China, particularly in successful development partnerships across various sectors. She emphasised the keen interest and strong bilateral relations between the two nations, as exemplified by the productive state visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to China last May, which resulted in the signing of memoranda of understanding.
 
Under this new agreement, CMEC will proceed with the construction of 1,269 new housing units in the third phase of the Sitra Housing Project, at an aggregate cost of 119 million Bahraini dinars. This phase will also encompass the establishment of secondary infrastructure services, with the project slated to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
 
Minister Al Rumaihi explained that this third phase represents the largest number of housing units and the final stage in the project's construction schedule. She noted that this initiative is part of the Ministry's comprehensive plan to provide housing services for the citizens of Bahrain.
 
The Minister lauded the productive partnership with CMEC in the execution of the Sitra Housing Project and deliberated on ways to further enhance cooperation in housing projects, particularly through the government's land development rights programme. This programme presents favourable opportunities for the private sector to contribute to the provision of housing units for Bahraini citizens, leveraging the Ministry's financing services such as "Tas'heel" and "New Mazaya."
 
The Sitra Housing Project is conceived as an integrated city that offers a superior quality of life, featuring residential units, green areas, advanced road networks, waterfronts, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and a range of educational, health, and commercial facilities. The third phase will be constructed on an area of 670,000 square metres, with the infrastructure work including 23.6 km of main and secondary roads, 22.8 km of sewage network, 27.6 km of rainwater drainage network, and a 26.6 km lighting network with 753 lighting poles. The project will also be supported by 36 electricity substations and 6 communications towers, along with a commercial complex, 5 commercial centres, 3 schools, a cultural centre, an events hall, and a child development centre. Furthermore, the project's tree planting plan will provide a central park, six gardens, children's play areas, and 52.3 km of green spaces with 1,644 trees.