Jul 17 2012

Ministry to build $242 million housing complex for employees

By Nishoor Ali

Azzaman, July 17, 2012

The Ministry of Science and Technology has signed a contract with a foreign firm for the construction of 2700 new houses for its employees, according to the minister Abdulkareem al-Samarraai

The complex is one of numerous housing activities by various Iraqi ministries to build new homes for their employees.

The ministry’s complex is to cost $242, the minister said.

The complex will be supplied with modern amenities and it will take three years to be completed, Samarraai said.

He said his ministry was negotiating the construction of additional housing complexes in Baghdad for its employees.

The Ministry of Science and Technology was established a few years ago to look after science and research in the country.

Its departments conduct research in various areas ranging from agriculture, industry to water and environment.

One of its basic tasks is to recruit Iraqi scientists who cannot find job careers at the universities and also accommodate post-graduates, particularly those with doctoral degrees.

Its employees with higher degrees are covered by the perks and privileges university professors are entitled to.

It and the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research coordinate efforts to stop brain drain and at the same time work out rules and procedures that will tempt Iraqi scientists abroad to return home.

The government has passed new legislation that brings salaries and benefits Iraqi professors and scientists are entitled to a level parallel to those of other countries in the region, where most of Iraqi exile intelligentsia has opted to settle.

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