Business & Finance Club - Manama : An upcoming $200 million fibreglass manufacturing facility being established at Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) is expected to create up to 1,200 new jobs, said a top official.

'This is the largest investment to date in the Bahrain International Investment Park and is a testament to Bahrain's competitiveness as an international manufacturing location,' said Dr Hassan Fakhro, Industry and Commerce Minister.

Dr Fakhro also pointed out the significant opportunity for downstream manufacture in Bahrain from fibreglass, used in a range of products including train carriages, automobile parts and in the construction industry.

The plant will support existing and new markets in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea and the US.

The Chinese Chongqing Polycomp International Corporation (CPIC) and Saudi Arabian S & A Abahsain Company are behind the move.

Last August, Abahsain began production at its new $65m fibreglass manufacturing facility at the BIIP, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tonnes of fibreglass.

CPIC and S & A Abahsain will now invest $200 million to $300 million in the development of a 45,000 sq m manufacturing joint venture at the BIIP with a capacity of 140,000 to 210,000 metric tonnes a year.