Eskan Bank – The International Smart Building Centre will be inaugurated tomorrow (Monday 25 January) under the patronage of the Minister of Housing and Chairman of the Board for Eskan Bank, Shaikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The launch of the International Smart Building Centre is being organized by Eskan Bank in cooperation with the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPO) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Bahrain, and the Islamic Development Bank.
In mid-2009, Eskan Bank signed an agreement with the National China Academy, for the provision of smart building materials, which allowed the Bank to benefit from China’s experience and expertise in establishing a centre specializing in smart building materials. By the end of 2009, the founding of the Centre had been initiated, which included the establishment of a storage warehouse for smart building materials and supplies.
Eskan Bank’s focus on this modern building technology goes hand in hand with its support for the Ministry of Housing’s efforts to accelerate the fulfilment of local housing needs; falling within the framework of the Economic Vision 2030 to provide higher standards of living for every Bahraini national.
The inauguration event will comprise two meetings organized by the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPO) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). These are the "Meeting of Smart Building Technology Experts” and the "Meeting of the Blue Industry Initiative Experts".
An exhibition will also be held as part of the inauguration, in order to showcase the smart building process, and the advantages of using smart building technology in building construction.
The Ministry of Housing recently completed the construction of two model units in accordance with smart building techniques for the purposes of assessment and evaluation by specialists, in preparation for the adoption of this technology in establishing government housing.
Since its establishment in 1979, Eskan Bank has been a renowned pioneer in home financing solutions, and a contributor to the development of the subprime mortgage lending market within the context of real estate development and construction in the Kingdom. The Bank also plays a leading role in Vision 2030, and its endeavours to improve and raise the quality of living by providing suitable housing solutions for Bahraini citizens.
Over the past three decades, the total loans disbursed by the Eskan Bank has exceeded BD 541.2 million, and has benefited 35,130 citizens. Moreover, through its investment banking and project financing operations, Eskan Bank has furthered partnership between the public and private sectors to accelerate the implementation of social housing in the Kingdom. The Bank also offers tourism services through its subsidiary ‘South Tourism Company’; and also supports infrastructural development and the establishment of multi-purpose service facilities in various residential areas.
