Work on the new Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Sakhir is on track.

Bahrain’s Work, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has already completed casting concrete bases and started installing steel structures, according to the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The contractor on the project is Cebarco.

Assistant Under-secretary for Construction Projects and Maintenance Shaikh Mishaal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa said that work on the facility has reached 14 per cent completion.

Around 9,000 cu m of concrete were cast, out of a total base volume of 29,500 cu m, in one of the largest casting operations in Bahrain, he said.

The massive project, for the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), is being constructed on a 278,900-sq-m area to the west of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).

The project, which consists of 141,120 sq m of built-up space, features exhibition halls and conference rooms fitted with the latest technology to host major shows and celebrations and seal trade transactions.

The centre includes 10 exhibition halls covering a total of 95,000 sq m, in addition to attached stores and independent entrances and exits. It also features two VIP majlis with their accessories to receive high-level visitors, in addition to control rooms, internal roads, services and parking for 1,600 cars, including 30 VIP parking spaces.

Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf, who recently visited the project in Sakhir said, the project “represents a unique architectural addition and is coherent with the Bahrain International Circuit in a way that enhances tourism in Bahrain”.

“It will be a major boost in attracting international events that will support investments and the economy in Bahrain in a way that serves the kingdom and enhances its status locally, regionally and globally.

“The project will place the Kingdom of Bahrain at the forefront of distinguished countries in this field because of its high specifications that are commensurate with global requirements,” he remarked.