The Industry Ministry has awarded Dublin-based International Development Ireland (IDI)the concession to manage and promote the first phase of the Hidd industrial area for five years. IDI carried out the masterplan for the development in 1999, which it will also be responsible for updating. The first section of the area, covering about 240 hectares, was handed over to the Industry Ministry by the Ministry of Works & Housing in May, following completion of the infrastructure by the local AA Nass Contractingand of the buildings by Olympic Contracting, also local. Space to let in the area is about 160 hectares, and the government says it has already received expressions of interest from companies keen on establishing operations in the zone, including Bermuda-based PVAXX Industriesand Kuwait Finance House(MEED 9:7:04).