The projects include the Bahrain International Airport modernisation project, the development of Al Jazair Beach, investment projects in Durrat Al Bahrain, expansion of the Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) smelter, and the modernisation project being carried out by Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), as well as other projects.

H.E. the Minister added, “These are important investments that promise opportunities to international investors as well as strengthening connectivity with the region. The infrastructure projects are part of a wider effort by the Kingdom, which aim at diversifying the economy, as well as drawing quality investment, in order to support long term sustainable growth, create quality job opportunities, and increase the standards of living. This comes as part of Bahrain’s upcoming economic strategy, under the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the EDB.

“Our current focus is on ensuring that the positive economic outcomes of these projects are experienced in the Kingdom through cooperation with different parties and  government institutions,  to implement  them  in a timely manner, so that their positive effects can be reflected on the national economy in the quickest possible time. Additionally, working with the different concerned parties will ensure that we are able to meet the required goals of each project” H.E. added.

The Bahrain International Airport modernisation project is currently underway at the Bahrain International Airport and will increase the airport’s capacity from nine million to more than 14 millionn passengers.

Alongside improvements to its transport infrastructure, the government of Bahrain is also investing in a range of other areas, including housing and its accompanying infrastructure projects, which represent one of the Kingdom’s priorities, and is included in the $7.5 billion which was provided as part of the GCC Development Fund. Bahrain aims to create 40,000 new housing units in a quick and efficient manner, along with investment in education facilities to support this growth.

The Bahrain Economic Quarterly (BEQ) report, issued by the Economic Development Board (EDB), revealed that Q2 2014 GDP growth reached 3.2 per cent in comparison to the first quarter of 2014, with the total GDP growth of the year 2014 expected to reach about 3.7 per cent. The kingdom experienced overall GDP growth of 5.6 per cent in Q2 2014, when compared to the same period a year earlier.