Azerbaijani companies invited to Iraqi revival

Representatives of the Azerbaijani Ministries of Economic Development and Foreign Affairs, as well as the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) have taken part in a conference on revival of Iraq with support from the US and British governments held in London.

Organized by the US embassy in London and the Organization of UK Trade Partners, the gathering brought together the two countries' state officials, representatives from the coalition states and international organizations, as well as main contractor companies. The conference primarily aimed to restore industrial and civil enterprises of Iraq after the US-led military operations and effective use of finances, allocated and to be allotted for this purpose, by the companies of the coalition-member states.

The conference discussed the current situation in Iraq, work done and to be done by the United States and the United Kingdom on Iraq's revival, as well as activities to be conducted as part of the agreements signed with main contractors and recommendations to local companies willing to participate in restoration activities. Also negotiations over 90.9m US dollars allocated by USAID for rehabilitation of post-war Iraq were held during the event.

The US government has elected the following ten companies and organizations main contractors: Bechtel Company, for infrastructure (34.6m US dollars), Abt Associates, for health (10m dollars), the World Health Organization (WHO), for health (10m dollars), the UN Child Fund, for health and education (9m dollars), Triangle Research Institute, for local management (7.9m dollars), the International Resources Group, for protection of a staff (7.1m dollars), Stevedoring Services, for management of a port (4.8m dollars), Air Force Contract Augmentation Program, for logistics support (4m dollars), SkuLink Air and Logistic Support, for management of an airport (2.5m dollars), and Creative Associates, for education (1m dolars).

The Ministry of Economic Development has told AssA-Irada that the Azerbaijani companies willing to participate in the implementation of the project may get appropriate information on ways of signing subcontract agreements through the web sites of the companies.