The request for proposal (RFP) for the South Jahra Labour City private public private partnership (PPP) project in Kuwait should be issued in the first quarter of 2013, the MEED PPP Projects in Kuwait Conference was told on 7 November.

“The RFQs are being finalised and the RFP will be issued soon,” senior architect at the Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) Abdullah Al- Muhanna said.

He said that 42 companies had expressed interest in the project. All are from Kuwait or the GCC.

The South Jahra Labour City calls for the construction of housing for 20,000 expatriate workers. The number of homes depends on the specifications suggested by bidders, but should be around 5,000 units.

The PTB specified that bidders for the project should set up a Kuwait joint stock company. This should be 50 per cent owned by a strategic investor and 50 per cent by the Kuwaiti general public.

The PTB is a government agency created to deliver PPP projects in Kuwait.