Mega transportation projects ‘set to serve channels for economic growth’

Bahrain is planning a number of key projects to improve its transportation network in the near future, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed has said.

This includes the King Hamad Causeway, which is the second causeway to connect Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the Bahrain Light Rail Network (LRT) and the expansion of Bahrain International Airport, he pointed out. The minister stated this during the monthly majlis hosted by the Bahrain Businesswomen Society. Mr. Ahmed revealed that the transportation sector is the third biggest contributor to the state budget following the oil sector and customs.

He said the total revenues from the sector is currently BD55 million annually and is expected to grow to BD65 m. “The contribution of the transportation sector to the gross national income is 5.8 percent with a growth rate of 4.7pc this year. The sector provides jobs to 3.5pc of the total Bahraini workforce.

“No economy can succeed without an integrated transportation sector in terms of air, sea and land transport. Our Kingdom has taken great strides in this regard,” the minister commented while reviewing the ministry’s main projects and development strategies with the attendees.

“Today, Bahrain has strong transportation links with its GCC neighbors through the land ports connecting us to Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway, in addition to the under construction 40km-long King Hamad Causeway, and through the Khalifa Bin Salman Port and the Bahrain Logistics Zone.