Jun 7 2012

31 development projects up for grabs as Iraq woos Chinese firms

By Zeena Sami

Azzaman, June 7, 2012

Iraq has used a trade exhibition held by Chinese firms to announce that it is offering 31 contracts for new projects which it wants foreign firms to execute.

The offer was made by Reconstruction and Housing Minister Mohammed al-Daraji as major Chinese firms were holding a conference on the margins of their Baghdad exhibition.

“Chinese firms enjoy huge expertise and massive human and financial capabilities rendering them qualified to enter the Iraqi market with force and success,” the minister told the Chinese delegates.

He said: “China can effectively contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq.”

Chinese firms are heavily involved in constructing power plants and developing oil fields in Iraq.

Iraqi ministries awarding contracts say the Chinese have proved to be better than any of their foreign counterparts, delivering projects on time and working under tough circumstances.

Given their “excellent record” in implementing projects, Iraqi authorities say they will give Chinese firms preferential treatment when granting new contracts.

Daraji said his ministry was putting the final touches to the contracts of which six are for the construction of gigantic housing projects and 25 for the building of roads and bridges across the country.

“It is important that the Chinese firms enter into cooperation agreements with private and state-run Iraqi firms. It is important for the Chinese firms to study these projects carefully for the mutual benefit of both sides.

“We are keen to see Chinese firms entering the Iraqi gate via the (Reconstruction and Housing) Ministry and would also love to see them supervising the projects the ministry is carrying out on its own,” said the minister.

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