Kamis, Agustus 28, 2008

Trade: 70 foreign companies participate at Iraq Fair

Trade Ministry said that received consent of 70 foreign companies to participate at International Iraq Fair that would held in Baghdad at November, general director of Iraqi Fairs Company, Sabti Juma'a, said.

These companies are from Sweden, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Syria and Jordan as other companies sending its consents to participate at the fair, Juma'a said.

(Al-Sabaah)

Turkey affirms readiness to invest in BasraTurkey affirms readiness to invest in BasraTurkey affirms readiness to invest in Basra

Basra governor, Mohammed Mesbah al-Waili and the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad Diyrabia Kanby have agreed on the final preparations to open Turkish consular in Basra.

Knaby confirmed the readiness of his country to enter in investment domain in Basra province and open direct navigational-air line between Basra airport and Turkey.

In statement to as-Sabah newspaper, Al-Waili said there is joint concern between the two governments to open Turkish counselor in Basra

(Al-Sabaah)

Iraq signs $3billion oil service contract with Chinese firm

Iraq struck $3bn oil services contract with China's state-owned oil firm CNPC, an oil ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Earlier the Iraqi oil minister Hussein al-Shristani said the two parties renegotiated a 1997 deal to pump oil from the Ahdab oilfield in Wassit, 180 km south Baghdad.

Oil ministry spokesman Assim Jihad pointed out “Under the new deal, output from the oilfield will be 25,000 barrels per day, out of the expected 125,000 barrels, would supply fuel for al-Zubaidiya thermal plant, which is set to begin generating electricty in three years”.

“The deal is the first major oil contract with a foreign firm since the US-led war in Iraq,the spokesman noted.

As security improves, Iraq - which has some of the biggest oil reserves in the Middle East - is trying to bring in foreign oil companies to boost crude output.

It needs billions of dollars of investment after years of war and sanctions.

Other foreign oil companies, such as Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, are also negotiating deals with the Iraqi government.

The Iraq government said its aim is to increase crude oil production from the current 2.5m barrels per day to 4.5m by 2013.

Iraqi oil experts put the discovered reserve for al-Ahdab field at 225 million, which is considred one of the largest in Iraq.

(Voices of Iraq)

Selasa, Agustus 26, 2008

Floating marine station back in operation after rehabilitation

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport on Tuesday said that technical teams from the State Company for Iraqi Ports have finished rehabilitation work on the 257-meter long vessel, al-Shorouq.

"The rehabilitation cost was 650 million Iraqi dinars (1 U.S. dollar= 1,119 Iraqi dinars), a trivial amount in comparison to the cost of the bids for the rehabilitation, 5 billion Iraqi dinars…," according to a ministerial statement received by Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The statement did not reveal when the ship was back in operation.

Al-Shorouq is a floating marine station that provides communication services between ships heading to Iraqi ports.

Built in Japan in 1976, the ship was subject to acts of sabotage in 1991.
(Voices of Iraq)

Minggu, Agustus 24, 2008

Al Maliki renewed his invitation to all international companies to work in Iraq

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday, renewed his invitation to all international companies to work in Iraq after what he described as a success achieved on the security domain.

Al Maliki received today a number of German businessmen and described his confidence about German companies, and hoped their work in Iraq is fast and achieve a clear progress in the economic, physical and service fields.

Al-Maliki announced Iraq's intention to send a delegation from the Ministry of Health to Germany for the development of hospitals and health institutions in Iraq and the introduction of modern and sophisticated medical equipment.

The delegation of German businessmen expressed their willingness to work in Iraq and participate in construction and reconstruction projects and investing in Iraq, according to the Iraqi government statement.
(Iraq Directory)

Jumat, Agustus 22, 2008

PM’s speech to Iraqi governors and ministers at economic conference

Dear honourable guests, good morning and welcome to this event. I would like to welcome everybody to Erbil, the capital, to participate in this important event. I would also like to warmly welcome the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Dr. Rafi’ al-Isawi, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, General Hertling, ministers, governors, and all participants.

I am glad to be present with you and to participate in this important conference regarding cooperation and coordination among the Kurdistan Region and the Northern Governorates, and focusing on projects and development efforts in these governorates.

Today in Iraq we have a unique opportunity. There is fertile ground for a democratic and federal state to emerge so that we can serve our people and reconstruct our country. A country that has long suffered from a totalitarian regime that brought war and destruction to Iraq. We are one of the new states in the world in many respects. But at the same time we should be careful not to make the error of assuming that history started the day Iraq was liberated.

We in Iraq – Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and all other constituencies – have experienced tragedies, hardship, and difficult times. This is why we are now trying to build a new Iraq, so that those sad days will not be repeated, and so that we can secure a bright future for the people of Iraq. Therefore we should watch our steps carefully so as not to allow that history to be repeated or the mistakes of the past to resurface.

After the liberation of Iraq we have decided voluntarily to work together to rebuild Iraq, because we understood that the Iraqi Constitution guarantees our rights and protects us from any oppression.

That is why we, in the Kurdistan Region, consider the Iraqi Constitution as a reminder and an instrument that pays attention to historical aspects. We have to protect ourselves from mistakes and injustices in the future. We believe that after erecting a federal, democratic and pluralistic system in Iraq, the constitution will be the strong legal foundation that will help us live together in peace and stability in our Region – a Region which can enjoy strong and close relations with the central federal government.

The principle of a central authority empowering regional governments and governorates is being practices almost all over the world, and we can benefit from the experiences of other nations. Many countries today are reviewing their governmental structure and style in order to move the decision-making process closer to the people via regional, provincial and local governments.

Modern governing systems have demonstrated that local and regional authorities are more responsible to their people, more efficient, more active in their work, and less burdened by bureaucracy and administrative complications. Many countries of the European Union adhere to the principle of devolving power to lower levels because they came to the conclusion long ago that issues and questions relevant to the people are handled most effectively and more quickly when given to regions and provinces.

Since the liberation of Iraq, in cooperation with the Coalition forces and friends of our people, efforts continue to establish a democratic, federal, transparent and active system in Iraq, a civilised system that will be aligned with modern norms. The manner in which federalism is to be enacted was agreed upon by Iraqi parties so that authority would never be accumulated by a central government and decisions would not be made unilaterally. Sharing power in Iraq is necessary so that all the people throughout Iraq can participate, will not be deprived of their rights or wishes, and will not be far from the decision-making process. And that is why any decision or law should respect the rights of the people and also the authority and wishes of the regions and governorates.

We in the KRG have insisted on maintaining the principle of distribution of power in our own internal dealings with local governments, and in our dealings with the federal government. And we have looked to advanced nations for examples – to the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and elsewhere – where we have found power-sharing has a positive effect on improving government performance and allowing citizens to feel close to authorities.

The KRG seeks this kind of coordination with the Iraqi federal government, and simultaneously adheres to the same principles within the Kurdistan Region. We are working to move more power and authority within the KRG to the governorates and even to lower levels where possible. We believe that the closer authorities are to people, the more familiar they will be with the people’s needs.

We support programmes to develop the governorates, programmes for which funds have been directly allocated from the central government, that enable provinces to execute service projects according to their set plan. We in the KRG closely monitor the quality and method of the process regarding governorate development that is implemented by companies and governmental actors.

Here I address my speech directly to all the attendees, and say – let us first look for solutions at the local and regional level. Let us not assume that Baghdad has the answer to each and every problem and obstacle. Let us recognise that countries around the world are devolving power to regional authorities because they reached the conclusion that this would be more successful.

To be certain, we must understand that there are some powers that must be reserved for the federal government and this must be respected, because according to the constitution the powers of government have been defined. But when the competence of local and regional authorities is strong enough to handle an issue, then those authorities should always have the opportunity to do so.

Our people have long waited for a chance to live in a peaceful, stable society, within a democratic framework, and through this type of principled partnership we can build a new and strong federal Iraq where growth and prosperity can take root, and where freedom replaces dictatorship.

When it comes to services and infrastructure we have many shortcomings, but we have made serious efforts to solve some of these problems. I can say that to a significant degree we have made good progress. All of us know that the lack of electricity, not only in the Kurdistan Region but all over Iraq, is one such difficulty. We have turned to the private sector in our efforts to find a solution to this problem.

At the same time, in the fields of education, health, and agriculture, we have also put forth serious effort, and if we can cooperate, we will benefit from each other.

I hope this conference will be successful and achieve its intended aim. The Kurdistan Regional Government is once again glad to host this conference, which serves the interests of all the people of Iraq.

Such activity presents a platform for everybody to further dialogue, exchange views, and benefit from each other. I am confident that each honourable governor has his own ideas and experiences to share in this conference, so that he can highlight challenges and issues and explore suitable mechanisms to solve these problems. The spirit of working together and looking to the future will ensure that our efforts succeed. Once again, thank you for attending the conference and I wish you success.

Thank you.

(KRG)

Iraq participates in Damascus International Fair

Syrian Trade and Economics Minister Amer Husni Lutfi said in a meeting with the delegation of the Trade Ministry participating in Damascus International fair that he is highly satisfied about Iraq’s participation in the fair.

Lutfi praised the vital role of Baghdad through its economic openness to neighboring countries and foreign states. He hailed as well endeavors aimed at activating trade exchange between Damascus and Baghdad.
(Al SumariaTV)

Rabu, Agustus 20, 2008

Iraq to Sign $1.2 Billion Oil Service Deal with China

Iraq will soon sign its first big international oil deal since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a $1.2 billion oil service contract with China, oil minister Hussain al-Shahristani was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

The deal covers a small field producing just 90,000 barrels per day and replaces an earlier deal signed under Saddam. But the terms described by Shahristani give a clue to the tough line Baghdad is likely to take in deals with other foreign firms.

It replaces a production sharing agreement that would have given a Chinese firm a long-term stake in profits from the Adhab oilfield with a services contract in which the Chinese receive fees for work, but Baghdad keeps the future profits.

"We have held talks with (the Chinese) for a year, and the terms of the deal were changed to a service contract. The Chinese have agreed on that, with a value of $1.2 billion," Shahristani told the an-Noor newspaper.

Foreign firms are keen to have access to the OPEC country's oilfields, the world's third largest. But with oil prices high Baghdad has been negotiating from a position of strength, while war has kept firms from setting up a presence in Baghdad.

The oil minister is travelling to China at the end of this month to discuss the deal, which was orginally signed in 1997 between Iraq and the China National Petrolium Company (CNPC).

The original deal was valued at $670 million at a time when oil prices were much lower than today, but it would have become far more lucrative for the Chinese if they were allowed to keep the production sharing terms at today's prices.

Iraq had said in the past it would honour the Saddam-era deal with the Chinese, but wanted to renegotiate it.

Iraq now exports about 2 million barrels of oil per day, roughly equivalent to exports under Saddam, but says that it can quickly boost production when it begins repairing infrastructure that was neglected during decades of sanctions and war.

The high price of oil means Baghdad is flush with cash and has little need of foreign financing for projects, although it wants to import expertise and technology from foreign firms.

Iraq is negotiating six other short-term service contracts worth about $500 million each with foreign firms or consortiums, but those deals have been long delayed. A U.S. diplomat said this week he expected most or all of them would be scrapped.

Foreign oil companies are seen as much keener on production sharing deals, which would give them a stake in future oil profits, rather than service contracts.Dozens of oil firms are expected to compete for long-term deals which the government says it hopes to open for bidding next year.

Shahristani repudiated a Saddam Hussein-era deal with Russia's largest private oil company LUKOIL, saying the contract was political and its terms "totally unfair."

"Relating to the Russian contract, it was signed with the former regime for political reasons and scrapped by the former regime also for political reasons," he said. "It is a totally unfair contract."

He said the field covered by that deal, Phase II of the West Qurna oilfield, was one of the biggest in Iraq. LUKOIL has already been informed that rights to the field will be offered in a second round of bidding coming soon, he said.

He also said a deal was almost complete with a large global firm on a joint venture to produce natural gas to generate electricity at home while liquefying and exporting the surplus.

He did not name the company, but Shahristani has previously discussed negotiations with Royal Dutch Shell on a project that would collect gas Iraq now burns off at oilfields.
(Reuters)

Senin, Agustus 18, 2008

China begins work on $900 million power plant and agrees to develop oil field in southern Iraq

The Chinese firm, Shanghai, has started constructing a major thermal power plant in the southern Province of Wasit, the Ministry of electricity said.

Electricity Minister Kareem Waheed attended the laying down of the foundation stone for the plant, the largest ever project a foreign firm begins constructing in Iraq since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

Kareem said on completion the plant will generate 1320 megawatts of electricity.

He said under the $924 million contract the Chinese were to have the plant constructed in 48 months.

“It is a good initiative from a foreign firm to start implementing such a project in the country following the improvement in security.

“Hopefully this will encourage other firms to follow suit,” Waheed said.

The Chinese have a much bigger stake in the province as they have also agreed to develop the al-Ahdab oil field there.

China National Petroleum Corporation is to develop the field with proven reserves estimated at more than 1 billion barrels.

Kareem said the Chinese will be producing nearly 90,000 barrels a day from al-Ahdab by the time the thermal plant is completed.

“The plant will rely for its operation on the crude which al-Ahdab will be producing,” he said.

The Oil Ministry is building small-scale refineries in Wasit, with the capacity of producing 10,000 barrels a day each.

(Azzaman)

12 projects to build schools in Missan

Twelve projects to build schools in the districts of Missan province will be carried out at a cost of 4.55 billion Iraqi dinars (roughly $450,00) as part of the provincial reconstruction & development program for this year, a local official said on Monday.

"The projects endorsed for implementation envisaged three elementary schools in the areas of al-Risala, Abu Rimaneh and al-Hassan al-Askari in the province's capital al-Amara and four other elementary schools in the villages of al-Ruwayshed, al-Kabsoun, al-Kholoud and al-Imiya in the district of Ali al-Gharbi, (100 km) north of Amara," Mohan Mahi Shebeib, the chairman of the Missan Reconstruction & Development Committee, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

He said there will be three more schools in the villages of al-Badaw, al-Quds and Abu Thinwan in the district of Kemeit, (25 km) north of Amara and two schools in al-Duwaijat village, Ali al-Sharqi district, (60 km) north of Amara.

Sitting on the Tigris River, Amara, the capital city of Missan, lies 390 km south of Baghdad. Missan, in the east of the country, bordering Iran, is home to many marsh Arabs.
(Voices of Iraq)

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