Deputy Premier holds meeting with real estate developers

Manama, (BNA): Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa held a meeting with the main real estate developers in Bahrain to discuss broadening partnership between the public and private sectors to provide more housing services for citizens. The meeting was held in light of the parliamentary-government consensus and the endorsement of the Representatives Council of the government action plan (2019-2022) which includes provision of no less than 25,000 housing units in the next four years. During the meeting held at Gudaibiya Palace in the presence of Housing Minister Eng. Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamer, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed the government's keenness to carry out the royal directives to provide decent housing for citizens. He underlined the support of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. He said the Representatives Council's approval of the government action plan (2019-2022), which includes no less than 25,000 housing units, represents a challenge for the government to honour this obligation within available resources as well as increase and diversify housing solutions to secure decent housing for every Bahraini citizen. The Deputy Premier pointed out the importance of boosting partnership with the private sector and broaden the scope of the social housing programme "Mazaya" to provide various housing services. He noted that the private sector will have a bigger role in the next phase notably with the remarkable turnout of citizens to qualify for the programme. He added that the housing issue this year will witness a quality change in terms of achieving sustainability and changing the Housing Ministry from a supplier of the service into an organiser. He asserted that boosting partnership with the private sector backs this conceptual radical change on which social housing is based in Bahrain. The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the developed version of "Mazaya" programme will be announced this year, adding that a new department will be created at the Housing Ministry to follow up on the housing projects that will be implemented by the real estate developers within the framework of the new version. The developers expressed thanks and respect to the Deputy Premier for informing them about the government's plans that will be carried out soon as part of its implementation of the four-year action plan (2019-2022). They affirmed that the meeting reflects keenness of the government to broaden the scope of cooperation with the private sector, through "Mazaya" programme, in tackling the housing issue.