Housing Ministry, CMEC sign agreement

Beijing, The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning signed an agreement with Chinese company China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to implement the third phase of the Sitra housing project. The agreement was signed during a meeting co-chaired by Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Wang Bo, the Director of the Board of Directors of CMEC. Dr Mohammed Ghassan Sheikho, the Bahraini Ambassador to China, attended the meeting. The minister emphasised the continuous development and growth of cooperation between Bahrain and China across various fields, particularly their successful partnerships in diverse development sectors. She noted that the ties and cooperation between Bahrain and China are strongly supported by the leaderships of both countries. The minister highlighted the positive outcomes of His Majesty the King's recent state visit to China, which resulted in the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding across various sectors. Und er the agreement, CMEC will construct 1,269 new housing units in the third phase of the Sitra housing project at a total cost of BD119 million. This phase will include secondary infrastructure services, and will commence in Q1 2025. The minister explained that the third phase of the Sitra housing project, which is part of the ministry's plan to provide comprehensive housing services for citizens, is the largest in terms of housing units and the final phase in the construction timeline. She added that the signing of this agreement comes just 3 months after the inauguration of the second phase, which included 531 units. This reflects the Ministry's dedicated efforts to accelerate the completion of housing projects, following the delivery of 1,077 units in the first phase. The minister commended the partnership with CMEC in implementing the Sitra housing project. The meeting discussed enhancing cooperation, particularly through the Government Land Development programme, which provides opportunities for the private sector to contribute to housing project for citizens, utilising the Ministry's financing services like Tas'heel and Mazaya. The meeting reviewed the progress of the Sitra Housing Project, including ongoing construction and the comprehensive infrastructure plan. Both sides emphasised their commitment to enhancing technical and engineering collaboration for the project's successful implementation. The Sitra Housing Project stands as a model of integrated urban development, seamlessly blending residential units with expansive green spaces, advanced road networks, waterfronts, cycling and pedestrian paths, and a comprehensive array of service, educational, health, and commercial facilities- all designed to elevate the standard of living. The third phase of the Sitra Housing Project will span 670,000 square metres and feature a 23.6 kilo metres main and secondary road network, 22.8 km sewage network, 27.6 km rainwater drainage network, and an integrated lighting system with 753 lampposts. This phase wi ll include 36 electricity substations, 6 telecom towers, and various service facilities like a shopping mall, 5 commercial centres, 3 schools, a cultural centre, an auditorium, and a child development centre. Additionally, the project includes an afforestation plan with a central park, 6 gardens, children's play areas, and 52.3 km of green spaces with 1,644 trees. Source: Bahrain News Agency