Bahrain International Airport is set to undergo major modernisation to accommodate millions of travellers.

The plans were yesterday (March 9) unveiled as His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"The new-look airport would have the capacity to welcome 14 million passengers per year," said Cabinet Secretary-General Dr Yasser bin Essa Al Nasser.

Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed submitted a memo updating the session on the ambitious expansion plan.

It included a presentation detailing the multi-phased project and preparations to invite bids and award the project.

Another key topic covered was Bahrain's overall workforce, which grew by 3.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with the same period in 2013.

Bahraini workforce soared by 2.5 per cent to top 156,000 employees by late last year.

Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan submitted a periodic report, updating the Cabinet on the latest local market trends.

A total of 1,565 Bahrainis entered the labour market from October to December, up by 38.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2013.

Bahrainis' average wages rose by 2.3 per cent in the public sector and 1.9 per cent in the private sector compared with the 2013 fourth quarterly results.

"The labour market indicators reflect the ability of the national economy to generate work opportunities for Bahraini jobseekers," said Dr Al Nasser. - TradeArabia News Service