MANAMA, 9 January 2005 — The Bahraini prime minister yesterday laid the foundation stone of the BD9 million 20-story premises of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The chamber has emerged as one of the leading business community platforms in the region,” the premier, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Salman Al-Khalifa, told reporters.
“The chamber, which was set up 65 years ago, has elevated the stature of the private sector in the entire region. It has played a vital role in the national economic development and the government will continue to work closely with it,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Sheikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa and BCCI Chairman Khalid Kanoo.
The building will be built over 34,000 square meters, next to the Bahrain International Exhibition Center at the Seef District. The project will be ready by mid-2006 and the piling work would be completed within 45 days by Keller Bahrain. The building will house all the offices and streamline all business related activities.
The crown prince described the project as a major development. “We look forward to an even more active role from the business community. The private sector is one of the main pillars of the national economy and the BCCI plays an important role in directing the sector,” said Sheikh Salman.
The chamber’s treasurer and board member, Ebrahim Zainal, said that the government would provide BD5 million for the project. “We plan to arrange BD1 million from a bank and the rest of the BD3.5 million will be raised from the chamber’s resources,” he said.
“The Chamber needs BD500,000 for furnishing the building and offices. The total cost will go up to BD9.5 million,” he said. “The BCCI will occupy four floors while there will be a businessmen’s club on the top floor.”