BizBahrain August 2016

Interview | Shaikha Mariam Mohammed Al Khalifa
cultures. It is a very friendly place and
you feel that the moment you step into
Bahrain.
You are better able
to judge a country’s
growth by seeing
its infrastructure
development.
What steps are being taken to maintain
Bahrain’s attraction as an investment
destination and a business hub?
All activities go through the Ministry
of Municipalities and they are working
to making processes simpler and easier
for everyone. Simplifying the Municipal
One Stop Shop process for investors is an
important step that has led to improved
investment in Bahrain. The Municipality
is always looking for ways to improve
the services we provide to investors. This
effort comes under the patronage of HRH
Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
who takes a direct interest in seeing how
things works.
The newly developed Sijilat
Commercial Registration program under
the patronage of HRH Prince Salman bin
Hamad Al Khalifa also expedites the CR
application process. It allows investors
to apply online and communicate
with all relevant government parties
in a unified system. The time saved is
tremendous and it makes the whole
process extremely simple. Both Prince
Khalifa bin Salman and Prince Salman
bin Hamad receive monthly statistics
and reports and if they see that there are
any delays in a project or in some action
being taken they question why and they
look into it. It is a very well managed
process and the results are there for all to
see and appreciate.
What needs to be done to ensure
that Bahrain’s growth potential is
communicated to investors and that
perceived reservations or risks are
adequately addressed?
The municipality is doing a pretty
good job in addressing this issue via
the media and through municipal
conventions where the present the new
initiatives that the government has set up
and the results. We participate in regional
conventions too so the whole GCC can see
what we are doing.
In terms of infrastructure and housing
how would you characterize progress to
date?
Regarding infrastructure, as I
mentioned earlier, a lot of work is being
done. All efforts are leading to one thing -
the goal of 2030. We are trying to improve
traffic conditions, simplify processes and
so many more initiatives.
In regards to housing projects,
building permits have been issued for
Alhunayniyah, Zallaq, Madinat Zayed, and
Jaw housing in the Southern governorate.
The first three housing projects have
been completed, while the Jaw project
consisting of over 2,000 housing units
have just applied for a building permit.
Infrastructure around the projects I
have mentioned will also improve
transportation and decrease traffic.
What are the criterion that are looked at
when issuing a building permit?
There are certain rules and
regulations that guide us when we issue
permits. We look at many factors like
parking, fire hazards and so on. Most of
the things have to do with safety and
security and maintaining some standards
in use of office space and in residential
conditions, for example, there have to be
the prescribed windows so that there is
adequate ventilation.
There is a ceiling also on the height
of the building which depends partly
on the area the building is in. We also
have specifications about minimum
size of rooms especially in key utility
areas. Every aspect of a building is
considered from ventilation to placement
of windows.
There are very strict regulations and
controls that have been implemented to
keep a check on buildings. Reports and
statistics are regularly submitted to HRH
Prince Khalifa bin Salman’s office and
they keep track of the number of permits
being issued. Besides that the Minister
himself is very hands-on when it comes
to the work being done. He wants an
excellent standard to be maintained.
What are the reforms and policies being
implemented to improve efficiency across
the public sector?
Of course there are many efforts.
One such, the Municipality has hired
a consulting firm Protiviti to study the
performance of different departments
in order to find ways to improve the
processes currently being used to
optimize performance. Besides this we
have a business development advisor
within the municipality who studies the
departments and presents statistics to
the Minister himself every quarter. It
shows how we have been dealing with
issues, how we can improve and areas
that need pulling up. At the end of the
year the reports on the four quarters are
studied to see what improvements have
been made and if anything further needs
to be done.
I think we are well on
the path to achieving our
goals for Vision 2030.
What do you foresee for the future of
Bahrain’s Vision 2030?
In terms of urban planning there are
comprehensive studies being made in
regards to zoning, under the patronage
of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al
Khalifa, who is the Head of the High
Committee of Urban Planning. There
have also been comprehensive studies in
regards to sustainable living. The studies
have looked at where high rise buildings
should be built, which areas are most
suitable to be commercial areas, and
where residential and so on. This is the
reason some areas have been frozen as
far as building permits are concerned. I
foresee the implementation of rules and
regulations in the future that will ensure
the use of sustainable techniques and
materials. I think we are well on the path
to achieving our goals for Vision 2030.
We have 14 years more and we will reach
there according to our plans.
24 August 2016