His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa today opened a new central commercial complex (Muharraq Central Market) in Muharraq.
HRH Premier ordered to keep the temporary building of the central market, and to maintain the same rent for those vendors who want to stay there.
The Prime Minister also gave directives to re-organise the area to provide more parking lots that serve its commercial, service and educational facilities, and facilitate traffic to and from the central market.
HRH Premier also gave instructions to build more development projects that would serve Muharraq and its people, contribute to increasing and improving governmental and non-governmental services there, and provide recreational facilities for the local citizens.
HRH Premier made the statements while paying an inspection visit to the Muharraq Central Market area.
HRH the Prime Minister stressed that the citizens of Muharraq Governorate deserve mega development projects to consolidate the aspects of its urban growth, as part of the government’s development and urbanisation strategy.
The government’s strategy is in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to enhance development across various towns and villages, and to provide all services to the citizens, the Premier added.
HRH Premier highlighted the government’s strategy to build more modern commercial markets, being one of the pillars of the progress march the kingdom is currently witnessing, and to provide them with all the required facilities that would make them more attractive to shoppers.
HRH the Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s keenness to ensure that the development of central markets should cope with and boost the urban expansion the kingdom is currently witnessing, as well as meet the aspirations of the citizens and residents for efficient quality services.
Central markets should also support small traders and their livelihoods, as well as open up new horizons for encouraging investments in them to stimulate the business movement in the kingdom, HRH Premier said.
HRH Premier went on to say that the Muhrraq Central Market revamp project is within the government’s interest in traditional, central and popular markets in order to develop and modernise them so as strengthen their role in serving the national economy and revitalise the commercial movement in the kingdom.
While attending the opening ceremony of the new-look Muharraq Central Market, HRH Premier was briefed by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf, on the implementation stages of the project, as well as about its economic and commercial importance.
The Prime Minister exchanged talks with a number of the market’s traders about commercial activities and the facilities provided by the government for the private sector.
HRH Premier expressed his admiration for the new Muharraq Central Market regarding its design and architectural style that combine modernity and Muharraq’s authenticity, hailing the giant leap made by the market concerning facilities, organisation and services, commensurate with modern requirements and in order to cater to the needs of visitors and shoppers.
Muharraq Central Market’s merchants and the local citizens extended deepest thanks and appreciations to HRH the Prime Minister for his unwavering interest in boosting the commercial and investment movement in the kingdom, expressing their delight at the opening of the market which, they said, would enhance development across the Muharraq Governorate.
The three-storey market, which is spread over a 28,000 sq m area, or four times the size of the old market, features a 180-car underground parking lot, 61 multi-purpose commercial outlets, in addition to sections for vegetables, meat and fish, in addition to the “Lulu” hypermarket which covers the entire first floor.