(TAP) - The completion of the "Tunis Financial Harbour" mega-project was at the heart of a meeting Wednesday between Prime Minister Najla Bouden and Bahrain's Ambassador in Tunis, Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Abdallah.

Bouden stressed, during this meeting, the need to accelerate the completion of the rest of the works of the "Tunis Financial Harbour," located halfway between Raoued and Kalaât El-Andalous (governorate of Ariana-Grand Tunis), a statement of the Prime Ministry said.

Bouden emphasised the solidity of the fraternal ties between the two countries, reiterating Tunisia's willingness to consolidate its relations with Bahrain in the common interest of the two peoples.

Bahrain's ambassador in Tunis, Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Abdullah said his country hopes to hold the Tunisian-Bahraini High Joint Committee in Manama, as soon as possible, "so that it will be an opportunity to expand the areas of bilateral cooperation and explore new opportunities for partnership.

Indeed, the mega-project of the "Tunis Financial Harbour," which will cover an area of 523 hectares in the locality of El Hsayene in the governorate of Ariana, has been delayed due to the difficult and delicate situation underwent by the country.

In 2016, general manager of the project, Hichem Errayes said this mega-project, whose first and second phases have been completed is one of the largest investments in Tunisia and the Arab region, given the volume of funds mobilised for its implementation.

The first two stages of the project were completed with an initial budget of 350 million dinars", while the overall cost of the project amounts to 6.5 billion dinars (3 billion dollars).

The Financial Harbour of Tunis is in short an integrated city housing, notably, a university of finance, a mega-commercial complex, five-star hotels, a 30-hectare marina that can accommodate more than 850 yachts and an 82-hectare golf course (with 18 holes) that allows for international competitions.

Besides finance and commerce, the Tunis Financial Harbour will house a private university, a private clinic, various spaces, individual and grouped housing and a 35-storey multi-purpose tower.