THE Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) has awarded a contract worth SR50 million ($13.3 million) for the development of a new industrial city in Baha in Saudi Arabia, the local Arab News reported.

The contract, given to an unspecified contractor, involves the development of Phase One of Baha Industrial City and includes the construction of a 7-km-long road linking the city with Al Aqeeq and Taif, it said.

Modon director general Tawfig Fawzan Alrabiah said Baha Industrial City would cover an area of 3 million sq m, with 1 million sq m developed in the first phase. The duration of the contract is 18 months.

Over the next three months, businessmen wishing to establish industrial projects will be allowed to apply for the allocation of land. The land will be allocated to industrialists in conjunction with development works, the report said.
Modon seeks to contribute to the development of  Saudi Arabia by establishing industrial cities to develop the kingdom’s regions economically and provide job opportunities to citizens, as well as take advantage of raw materials and mineral wealth available in different regions of the kingdom.

The city will be attractive to investors since it is located in an area that is rich in primary resources. These include gold, which is found in Al Aqeeq and Jedma reservoirs; copper and zinc in the Rabzan and Jedma reservoirs; tin in Abla reservoir; veins of barrett in Al Aqeeq; feldspar metal, used in many industries especially for the production of glass, ceramic and abrasive (grinding) materials, in the Abla area; fluorite, also found in the Abla area and used in the production of hydrofluoric acid, ceramics as well as in metal foundries; and ornamental stones such as marble and granite, the report added.