Jun 10 2012

Australia grants 1,200 scholarships to Iraqi students

By Zeena Sami

Azzaman, June 10, 2012

Australia has granted 1,200 scholarships to Iraqi students willing to specialize in agricultural sciences, an Iraqi legislator said.

Homam Hamoudi, who heads the foreign relations committee in the Iraqi parliament, said the students will study at Australian universities “to transfer Australian agricultural expertise and techniques” to Iraq.

Hamoudi made the remarks in a statement his office handed out to journalists on his return from a visit to Australia.

“I have urged Australian firms to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq,” the statement quoted Hamoudi as saying.

The statement said the legislator’s visit focused on ways of exchanging scientific expertise and setting up links between Iraqi technology institutes and their Australian counterparts.

Hamoudi, according to the statement, had meetings with Iraqi exiles in Australia and asked them to lobby Australian firms to invest in the country.

“It is important for Iraqi brains residing in Australia to convey the right picture on conditions in their home country,” said the statement.

Australian firms have shunned working in Iraq citing security concerns.

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