FRENCH experts are working on a major road development plan along Manama’s coastline, it has been revealed.
The project includes routes linking Coral Bay and Avenues Bahrain Mall, a multi-million development along King Faisal Highway that will be opened later this year.
“This leading project follows a request by His Majesty King Hamad to our president Francois Hollande to provide expertise for an urban planning,” said French Ambassador Bernard Régnauld-Fabre.
“It is a road map that will cover the area between Coral Bay and Avenues Bahrain.
“The contract for the project has been running for 18 months and for that we have a batch of experts living in Manama.”
Mr Régnauld-Fabre was speaking during the Rotary Club of Salmaniya’s weekly meeting at Capital Club in Bahrain Financial Harbour, during which he also highlighted the growing trade between his country and Bahrain.
He said he expected a further growth in bilateral trade relations following the $3.4 billion Gulf Air deal to purchase 29 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft.
The deal was made during Bahrain International Air Show, that was held in January last year, and consisted of 17 Airbus A321neo and 12 Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The first aircraft of the fleet is expected to be received in June 2018.
“Trade volume between France and Bahrain was around 300 million euros, according to 2015 figures,” he said.
“Bilateral economy is expected to increase, especially after the deal with Airbus, which is European and partly owned by France.”
He also said that the number of Bahraini travellers to France was not affected by repeated terror acts over the last two years.
A series of co-ordinated attacks took place in Paris on November 13 and 14 in 2015, killing 130 people.
Among the locations targeted were a music venue, sports stadium, bars and restaurants.
Eighty-six people were also killed in Nice when a 19-tonne cargo truck was deliberately driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on July 14 last year.
Tourism
“Tourism was affected. I cannot deny that the number of tourists decreased in Paris and even in the coasts,” said Mr Régnauld-Fabre.
“But France has a very organised policy to promote tourism and I am sure that the situation will not last long.
“You can be sure that 2017 will bring back tourists to France in high numbers.
“However, from Bahrain specifically, the number of visas issued for travellers has not changed, which means we still maintain the same number of Bahrain visitors.”
There are more than 1, 200 French nationals living in Bahrain and the French School of Bahrain has around 700 students enrolled, according to Mr Régnauld-Fabre.
shahlaa@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))