Housing Minister receives UN-Habitat Program delegation

Manama, July 11 (BNA): Housing Minister Engineer Basem bin Yacob Al-Hamar received Director UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) Regional Office for Arab States Dr. Erfan Ali, the program’s Representative in Kuwait Dr. Amira Al-Hassan, and the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKI) Director Fernanda Lonardone. The meeting discussed a number of topics of common interest, especially those related to urban development and the housing field, and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination between Bahrain and the UN-Habitat Program. The minister reviewed the latest developments in the housing programs in the Kingdom, which were based on the recommendations of the National Housing Report prepared by UN-Habitat in 2018, highlighting the achievements made through the Mazaya Program, in addition to the various funds offered in cooperation with the Housing Bank. As well as planning to expand the rental sector and residential buildings projects in the Kingdom. Al Hamer praised the fruitful cooperation, stressing that the Kingdom pays special attention to the principle of sustainable development, especially the eleventh goal related to building safe and stable cities and societies. Dr. Erfan praised the Kingdom’s remarkable progress in the field of urban development, stressing the program's readiness to support Bahrain’s efforts in achieving the new urban agenda.