Basra governor on Sunday said that a number of German firms have shown their willingness to invest in the province, revealing plans by the German government to open a consulate in Basra.
"Some German companies have expressed their readiness to come to Basra and to gain investment and trade contracts to set up projects in the province in different fields," Mohammed Musbah al-Waili told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).
On July 22, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Germany on a European tour that also included Italy and the Vatican.
The Iraqi premier urged the German government to open two consulates in Basra and Arbil and a university in Baghdad. He also called on German companies and investors to participate in investment and development projects in Iraq.
Basra is the cradle of the first civilization of Sumer. It has the seven main Iraqi ports. The first built in Islam 14 A.H. (After Hegira), the city played an important role in early Islamic history.
The area surrounding Basra has substantial petroleum resources and many oil wells. The city's oil refinery has a production capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat and dates as well as livestock.
A network of canals flowed through the city, giving it the nickname "The Venice of the Middle East" at least at high tide.
(Voices of Iraq)
