Plans to boost investment in education infrastructure

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to launch a partnership initiative with the private sector as part of a wider initiative to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy.
The public-private partnership (PPP) plan will promote investment in and development of buildings and infrastructure in the education sector. The initiative will be the subject of a conference at the Education Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh Jan. 10 and 11.
The Investment and Finance in Educational Buildings Conference will focus on new funding initiatives, including Public Private Partnership (PPP) models, investment opportunities and financing options.
Details of this initiative were shared during a press conference, which was attended by Engineer Fahad Al-Hammad, CEO of Tatweer Building Company, Dr. Saad bin Saud Al-Fuhaid, undersecretary to the minister of education for private education, Engineer Yunus bin Omar Al-Barrak, undersecretary to the minister of education for infrastructure and a number of national and international media representatives.
The conference will focus on promoting engagement between the public and private sectors.
Al-Hammad said: “We will be discussing the ministry’s public-private partnership initiative in detail, and what this means for building infrastructure investment opportunities in the education sector.”
“We have employed international experts in the fields of construction and financing, with whom we have undertaken 10 research studies and reviewed 30 different mechanisms in order to promote public-private partnerships for the development of educational infrastructure.”
Al-Barrak said that the conference was part of the ministry’s plans for supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy.
“We are committed to strengthening our partnership with the private sector, so that we have the capacity to deliver the educational infrastructure the country needs.”
Al-Barrak said: “Building and maintaining high-quality infrastructure and facilities specifically designed for education will improve the quality offered as well as reduce operating costs.
The ministry, he added, will continue to work with its partners, both public and private in determining how it can further support this sector.

Source: Arab News