Kuwait is expected to sign within two weeks a USD1bn contract with Italy's Salini Impregilo and Turkey's Limak Construction for its planned South Al Mutlaa City project, an official said on Wednesday. It is the first phase of the planned 100,000sq km urban development, which is located in central Kuwait and is expected to house around 400,000 residents when completed. The South Al Mutlaa City contract will cover construction of a road and other infrastructure and will be funded by the Kuwaiti government from its own reserves, according to Naser Khraibut, director of planning at the country's Public Authority for Housing Welfare. Costs for building infrastructure and public buildings in the city has been estimated at around USD20bn.Kuwait will also sign a contract this month worth between USD80mn and USD90mn with Hill International to manage the building of the entire city, Khraibut said. (Reuters)