Bahrain has allocated more than 1.04 billion Bahraini dinar ($2.76 billion) for infrastructure projects over the next two years, Bahrain's Works and Housing Minister, Fahmi bin Ali Al Jowder, announced yesterday. The move is an attempt to attract more foreign investment in Bahrain, which is currently enjoying a budget surplus enabled by high oil prices. Several key infrastructural projects are already underway, including the expansion of Bahrain's airport, the completion of a second sea port and the upgrading of the roads network. Al Jowder also said yesterday he was forging ahead with plans to create 19 islands on land reclaimed from the sea as part of a project to solve the archipelago's growing housing problem. The project, which is known as the Northern City, when completed would result in turning the archipelago that has 33 low lying islands into a 52 one, according to a report published today by Arab News. "Land reclamation is a natural process," he said. "This is not something that worries us. Singapore which was once smaller than Bahrain is larger today and land reclamation is a viable choice being implemented in Holland".
