Dubai: Groundbreaking for the new building of the Indian Embassy in Bahrain will be done during a ceremony next month to be attended by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Since India opened its mission in Bahrain in 1973, it has been functioning in rented buildings. Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar announced during a monthly open house at the embassy yesterday that the External Affairs Minister will attend the goundbreaking ceremony on December 8. "We are now happy to announce that the approval has been given and the groundbreaking ceremony will be held on December 8 in Seef," Kumar was quoted as saying by Gulf Daily News.

The embassy is to be built on 7,598 sq m purchased by the Indian government in 2005. The project will include the embassy building, ambassador's residence and homes for some officials. The designs are expected to reflect the growing stature of India as a nation standing for peace, harmony and friendship. Kumar said work is expected to begin by January and the project is expected to be completed in 15 months. He said Khurshid will also be a keynote speaker at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Regional Security Summit: The Manama Dialogue to be held during December 6-8 in Bahrain. Khurshid will hold high-level talks with senior ministers and work on strengthening bilateral ties.