Bahrain must empower families economically

Manama : In a move to empower Bahraini families economically, the Cabinet yesterday discussed ways to develop the “Khutwa” (Step) programme for home projects.

Bahraini families or individuals who do not have a commercial registrar may join the “Khutwa” programme to receive permit to work from home and benefit from the government’s financing and promotion services.

The new-look programme, which aims to raise  “Khutwa” beneficiaries from 300 to 1,000 annually including unemployed citizens, was referred to the Executive Council, led by the Crown Prince Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for further studies.

Chaired by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the session was attended by the Crown Prince.

The Cabinet also praised the abundance and variety of real estate development projects in the Kingdom, which indicate that the country has prepared a fertile environment for investment to flourish, especially in real estate.

In this regard, it highlighted the success of gulfBID annual expo for construction (gulfBID 2016), held under the auspices of HRH Premier and opened by him recently.

The session also reviewed a memorandum presented by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam Khalaf, on the roads and sanitary projects during 2016. The memorandum showed that 12 tenders, worth BD21 million have been awarded, and 17 projects, worth BD101m, have been put out to tender so far in 2016. 

The projects include the expansion of the Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant, revamping Al-Jasra Intersection, rehabilitating the old sewage networks in Muharraq and Manama, as well as the water drainage network.