Iraq Reconstruction News 1 April 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
1 April 2007


1. On-the-Record Briefing With Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Leaders on Iraq -- http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/2007/82501.htm

2. Marking Up the Reconstruction: Part 2 -- IraqSlogger.com -- http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/2068/Marking_Up_The_Reconstruction_Part_2

3. Three Iraq state business restarted -- A U.S. program to jump start Iraq's 200 former state-owned factories is beginning to yield fruit, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. A ceramics factory in Ramadi, a Sunni area, a clothing and textiles sewing factory in Najaf, the heartland to Iraq's majority Shiites, and an automotive and metal factory south of Baghdad in a mixed area are all up and running, said Paul Brinkley, deputy under secretary of defense for business transformation. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3514

4. Turkish firms eager to enter Iraqi petrolium market -- Turkish Daily News -- http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=69506

5. Turkish business to drive reconstruction in Iraq – Turkish Daily News --A meeting promoting the second Iraq International Fair in Gaziantep scheduled for May, was auspiciously held on the day of Nevruz Bayram in Istambul. Undaunted by the dismal security and economic situation in Iraq, State Minister for Trade Kürşad Tüzmen spoke enthusiastically of a roadmap involving elements of the private sector and called for cooperation between neighbors. http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=68826

6. Kurdistan a safe investment haven in war-torn Iraq -- Dubai: Iraq's Kurdistan region is marketing itself as a safe haven for Arab investors in an otherwise troubled nation beset with insurgent violence and foreign military presence. "The difference between Kurdistan and other parts of Iraq is that we have political stability and safety. We have had a regional government since 1992," said Herish Muharam, chairman of the Board of Investment for the northern Iraqi region. http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Investment/10113224.html

7. Five companies probed in drive against corruption -- FT.com -- British companies in at least five foreign countries are being investigated for alleged bribes in an initiative that the new anti-corruption police unit hopes will result in the first overseas corruption trial getting under way next year. The unprecedented anti-corruption drive is being led by a 10-person investigation unit within the City of London's economic crime department, the elite anti-fraud squad. It is focused on cases that have been referred by the Serious Fraud Office. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3e44c126-d9ac-11db-9b4a-000b5df10621.html

8 Iraq Reconstruction Teams to Receive Needed Support -- WASHINGTON — Ten veteran diplomats and four representatives of the Agency for International Development will depart for Iraq in coming days as the civilian core of 10 new provincial reconstruction teams, the first step in what the Bush administration has promised will be a significant increase in efforts to accelerate local economic and political development. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/24/washington/24reconstruct.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

9. Iraq reconstruction fund meeting ends with donations said lower than expected -- If donations for Iraq end, this would make terrorists stronger, said Iraqi Planning & Development Minister Ali Baban. "Iraq Reconstruction Forum" held within the scope of the 5th meeting of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) Donor Committee (formed by the World Bank and the UN Development Group) ended in Istanbul on Monday. http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/15731

10. U.S. General Sees Cause for Optimism in Anbar Province -- Blackanthem Military News, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the last year, coalition forces have laid the foundation for stability and provincial Iraqi control in Anbar province, the commander of Multinational Force West said today. "Our strategy of clear, hold and build, combined with an energized governmental and tribal engagement, is beginning to bear fruit," Marine Maj. Gen. Walt Gaskin told reporters at the Pentagon via satellite. http://www.blackanthem.com:80/News/International_21/U_S_General_Sees_Cause_for_Optimism_in_Anbar_Province5412.shtmlA

11. World Bank approves $124m credit for Iraq - Reuters - Washington: The World Bank on Thursday approved $124 million in credit for an electricity reconstruction project in Iraq. The project aims to increase generating capacity at the Hartha power station in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the World Bank said in a statement. http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/03/31/10114830.html

12. 4 companies puts into effect water project -- Muthana water directorate has delivered al-Samawa & Khuther water clearing which financed by international bank, to four companies. http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/15897

13. In letter, Iraq tells IMF inflation is a priority - Reuters- Iraq promised to make tackling high inflation one of its priorities and said it will gradually keep raising domestic prices of fuel products to curb a thriving black market, according to a letter by Iraq’s top finance officials to the IMF published on Friday. ”Inflation has risen to an unacceptable level,” the letter, signed by Iraq’s central banker Sinan al-Shabibi and Finance Minister Bayan Jabor, told the International Monetary Fund. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/March/focusoniraq_March165.xml&section=focusoniraq

14. Discussing investment and reconstruction projects -- Two delegations from Iraq and Kuwait put forth several projects in the fields of reconstruction and investment with which the Kuwaiti private sector can contributed in Iraq, and agreed to prepare dossiers on them and discuss them in future through a meeting between the two delegations at an invitation from the Kuwaiti side. http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org/idp/news/new1541.htm

15. Iraqis Unite Behind "Daughter of Mesopotamia" - IraqSlogger.com -- At least one out of every four Iraqis have voted via cellphone for Shada Hassoun, the Iraqi female finalist who won the vote in the popular Star Academy show – an Arab version of American Idol that features young talented contestants from different Arab countries. http://www.iraqslogger.com:80/index.php/post/2170/Iraqis_Unite_Behind_Daughter_of_Mesopotamia

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