MANAMA: The General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) has unveiled plans to create a customs-free storage, warehousing and commercial service building in the vicinity of the Khalifa Bin Salman Port. GOP will shortly announce the beginning of the auction procedure for potential investors to bid for a build operate and transfer (BOT) concession agreement.

The duration of the concession agreement will be 25 years for the construction and operation of both a multi-storey car park and the planned service area.

The detailed design and drawings required for construction are now complete and will be provided to interested potential developers.

Located behind the customs gates, the service centre will house 6,500 sq/m of office space, general warehousing facilities, and a 4,000 capacity multi-storey car park for the storage of imported cars prior to their re-distribution within Bahrain or re-export within the region.

In addition, the service area will offer a number of different amenities such as a petrol station with basic maintenance facilities, banking facilities, food outlets and a convenience store.

"The planned service area will become a strategic component of the operation of the Khalifa Bin Salman Port and the Bahrain Logistics Zone," said GOP director general Hassan Ali Al Majed.

"It will ensure that the tenants and the companies operating at the port and logistics zone will have access to the best possible facilities to support their business activities.

"The new service area will be yet another milestone in our continuous commitment to develop the Khalifa Bin Salman Port community."