A ministerial pledge was made yesterday to finish work on lined-up projects valued at BD136.1 million, as Bahrain gears up for economic recovery post Covid-19.
Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani told MPs that the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), which he chairs, will continue progressing on eight major initiatives that will boost Bahrain’s development over the next two years.
They are:
- The BD83m Bahrain International Exhibitions and Conventions Centre;
- the BD2.5m Dive Bahrain;
- BD4.2m revamp of the Old Manama Suq;
- BD4m Bahrain Bay Coast;
- BD18.5m Galali Coastline;
- BD22.1m Al Ghous Avenue Coastline;
- BD1.3m Vatel Bahrain-International Hospitality School;
- and the BD500,000 Amphibious Duck Bus.
Mr Alzayani said in another response to Speaker Fouzia Zainal that new rules and specifications for importing electric cars would be imposed in Bahrain on July 29. Ms Zainal praised the opening of the first charging station in Bahrain as the country gears up for the move officially.
Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi said in another response that there were no plans to fully digitalise education and to get rid of books.
He explained that ‘paperless’ schools were impractical as not all families could afford the expense of digital education.
The minister said books will continue being offered for all classes, with the ministry printing two million copies at a cost of BD2.5m a year in response to a question by Parliament services committee vice-chairwoman Dr Sawsan Kamal on plans for transformation of conventional schools to digital ones.
Meanwhile, Dr Al Nuaimi outlined that there were nine accredited private universities currently operating in Bahrain. He added 10 international universities were also offering their courses and programmes through the accredited private universities in Bahrain.
The minister said three other new international universities and colleges have been licensed and are set to start functioning soon in response to another question by MP Dr Abdulla Al Thawadi.
&uuid=(email))