MANAMA: Bahrain could cut the cost of affordable housing by 40 per cent as a result of a deal the kingdom has struck with China. That is the view of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) director of investment and technology promotion Liang Dan.

She was speaking after the two countries had signed a deal which will see technology that Unido has helped develop in China coming to Bahrain with the setting up of a research and development facility in the kingdom.

It was signed yesterday by Housing Minister Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa and Unido head of the centre for south-south industrial co-operation Tan Weiwen at the Eskan Bank headquarters in Seef

"With a population of 1.3 billion we are the biggest country in the world and Bahrain is one of the smallest," said Mr Tan.

"But by setting up this centre here using technology we have developed to meet our needs we can make Bahrain a regional centre for developing affordable housing while at the same time we can gain from Bahrain's entrepreneurial experience in this field."

He said that providing affordable and ecologically sound housing for China had been a major undertaking but that within Unido and its south-south development strategy they had been able to develop technologies that had greatly reduces environmental harm while at the same time reducing costs.

"Unido has assisted China in setting up its low cost housing material centre and we now wish to share our experience and technology.

"We also expect, through this partnership with Bahrain, to benefit from the kingdom's entrepreneurial skills."

He added that a team of technicians would be arriving in Bahrain in a matter of weeks to carry out research for development of the project.

Shaikh Ibrahim said that the development of the project would not only benefit Bahrain but could see the kingdom become a hub for smart house development for the entire region.

The centre, which would develop the research and technology and integrate local resources to the Chinese model, would be set up in the south of Bahrain on a site of between 5,000 and 10,000 sq/m.

"The cost of this project depends on the research that still has to be carried out but this will be a profit driven venture," he said.

"Initially we are looking at a research and training centre which will provide materials, but we will be working hand in hand with contractors and the private sector in a venture that is being supported by the housing bank."

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