Deal to restore historic homes near Bahrain Fort

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and the Bahrain branch of BNP Paribas have signed an agreement to restore and revive several houses near the Bahrain Fort site in Manama.

The memorandum was signed by His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, head of BACA, and Mr Amine Bel Hadj Soulami, CEO of BNP Paribas Middle East and Africa, in the presence of Mr. Eric Giraud-Telme, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

On this occasion, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed emphasised the authority’s eagerness to strengthen cooperation with the private sector, commending the joint efforts with BNP Paribas, which consistently result in projects that enhance the cultural landscape of the Kingdom.

He noted that this collaboration reflects the strong cultural ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the French Republic.

The agreement will contribute to the project aimed at revitalising the area surrounding the Bahrain Fort site, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2005, significantly aided by the French excavation teams led by archaeologist Dr Monique Kerverin. Social partnership Amine Bel Hadj Soulami stated: “We at BNP Paribas are pleased to collaborate with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities to restore and revive the historic building of the French excavation mission.

At the bank, we are committed to our social partnership and sustainability responsibilities, and we believe in the importance of initiatives that support cultural heritage.

The headquarters of the French mission holds historical significance in Bahrain, as it was the residence of Dr Monique Kerverin, the first head of the French archaeological mission at the Bahrain Fort site. “The mission’s efforts were instrumental in highlighting the cultural and historical importance of Bahrain and in the inclusion of the Bahrain Fort site as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country.”