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With the Attendance of H.E Prime Minister, Nuri al- Maliki

NIC and Hanawah South Korean Company holds the Ceremony of Opening the Precast Concrete Plant in Bismayah Project

H.E Prime Minister, Mr. Nuri al- Maliki assured that providing suitable housing units for Iraqi people was a big goal and although achieving great hopes often faces greater obstacles but the slogan according to which all worked was “a housing unit for each Iraqi family”.

During his attendance to the ceremony of opening the precast Concrete plant in Bismayah project, Mr. Maliki expressed his hope for Bismayah city to turn into a new governorate not only for the big number of housing units it contains but for having comprehensive services that covers all medical, educational, energy, commercial and other vital important sides.

He also added that as we are today witnessing completing infrastructure works, specialized plants and factories in Bismayah new city project, we are also in front of a great starting point that can contribute to supporting the process of building the housing units in Iraq which represents a severe strike for all hostile campaigns against the project forwarding his thanks and appreciation for Hanawah Company which could make this dream come true through its high capacities and obligation.

NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami al- Araji, in his turn, said that the year 2015 will witness handing the keys of approximately 10 thousand housing units to be followed by 20 thousand units each year until hopefully ending the whole project by the year 2019 with all its services.

Al- Araji expressed his gratitude for the support submitted by H.E prime Minister for the whole economic and investment process in the country and especially Bismayah new city project that had got big facilitations. Thanking the Korean side commitment to the implementation plan according the time table specified for each phase.

South Korea Ambassador in Iraq, Mr. Jong Wan Jo, who had taken his pose just a couple of days earlier to this event, assured that Today’s event will be long remembered as one of the “most successful stories” of bilateral cooperation celebrating the “Silver Jubilee”, 25 years of diplomatic relations between Iraq and Korea.

He added that Korean government and people are ready to share their experiences with their fellow Iraqis so as to assist Iraq’s earnest endeavor for rapid economic growth and development, believing that Bismayah New City Project became as a symbol of cooperation between Korea and Iraq, will greatly contribute to the economic reconstruction of Iraq as well as the well-being of the Iraqi people.

Mr. Heong Jong Kim, Hanawah Vice Chairman of the board of directors, expressed his high appreciation for the Iraqi government and the NIC for granting Hanawah Co. their confidence to undertake constructing Bismayah new city giant project adding that the investment of this PC Plant together with 14 other Building Material Plants will play the vital role In building Bismayah New City as well as  implementing other National Reconstruction Plans in Iraq.

He also affirmed that the company is committed to achieving the project according to schedule agreed upon promising that the city will be one of the most modern cities in the region and the Middle East.

The ceremony also included an expanded tour for the Prime Minister accompanied by NIC Chairman and specialists in the plants to see the plants and the housing sites.

In Cooperation with the NIC

The Netherland Embassy in Baghdad Organizes an Expanded Meeting with the Iraqi Private Sector

Under the slogan of “welcome to Netherland  … the Country of trade and Investment”

The Dutch – Iraqi Joint Forum was held in Baghdad on the 9^th of April 2014 with the attendance of a big number of Iraqi businessmen.

The forum opened with a welcoming speech for Dr. Sami Al- Araji, NIC Chairman through which he affirmed that the relations with the Netherland gets a big interest from the government of Iraq and the NIC as an investment supporting side in Iraq adding that the last three years had witnessed a special cooperation to foster these relations where seven sectors and some big industrial projects (Chemical, Petrochemical, Agricultural, Irrigation and engineering  sectors) were chosen to start cooperation through confirming NIC support for the Netherland Embassy efforts of coordination and converging between Dutch companies and the Iraqi private sector.

Al- Araji also referred to the opportunity of holding two conferences with the Dutch companies the first in Iraq and the second in the Netherland in the second half of this year  to make a visit for the purpose of having a better idea about the market there and the business volume and investment sectors.

From her side, H.E Janet Sefn, the Ambassador of the Netherland in Baghdad assured that this meeting is a good opportunity to communicate and to present the capacities and sectors available in the Netherland when she started presenting a big number of sectors like (Agriculture and Food stuff, Chemical Industries, Energy, High tech systems, horticulture and biology, and logistic services).

Sefn also referred to the privileges the Netherland provide for investors like the competitive taxing system and the advanced infrastructure and logistics with an innovation incubating environment and a solid man power.

Questions and answers panel was opened for Iraqi businessmen to present all obstacles and difficulties they are facing in their cooperation with the Dutch companies where the Ambassador listened to all and promised to study and attempt to find the suitable solutions.

With the participation of different countries

Holding the First International Festival for Air Activities in Babylon Province

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Sport and Youth and the National Investment Commission, the first International Festival for Air Activities starts today 23.Mar.14 in Babylon province with the participation of professional air activities teams from different nationalities like (Poland, Netherland, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Brazil, Chili and the United States of America) accompanied by a big group of journalists and media people who will undertake covering the event and broadcast it to the world.

The NIC Media office delegation representative said that the activities to be played for the first time in various provinces of Iraq shall include paragliding with 10 performing gliders, balloons activities with 4 balloons to perform free air jumping and other activities, referring that the participating teams are those of the most internationally well known and having had previous participations in different parts of the world and whose participation in Iraq now delivers a clear message to all the world that Iraq will keep being the cradle of civilization, tourism, sports and arts.

The source added that NIC had actively contributed to support the festival through facilitating the logistic procedures like granting the entry visas for the participating teams, accompanying them to provinces and providing the media coverage.

NIC logo shall be put on the four balloons to be prevailing in the sky of Iraqi province sending a message of peace and love to the world and reassuring that Iraq is open for business.

Starting the Construction of the First Buildings in Bismayah New City Project

The process of building the first housing units had started in Bismayah New City project in the beginning of March.2014 as it started with compacting the concrete pillars in the soil followed by constructing the foundations of buildings.

The project technical manager said that the company had finished the process of installing the foundations concrete (Socle) which is one kind of the pre casting concrete laid over foundations in order to make the platforms for first floor of each building after installing the hollow concrete segments over the foundations, adding that the sandwich panel walls had also been installed which represent the external walls of the housing units.

Worth mentioning that Hanawah South Korean implementing company had launched the real production of the pre casting concrete in the PHC pile production factory that shall produce the platforms and ceilings for the housing units, knowing that the factory consists of four production lines automatically run.

For the Purpose of allowing access of International Franchise to Iraq

NIC holds a Conference to Develop Franchise Opportunities in Iraq

NIC in coordination with the International Franchise Association, US Department of State and the American Embassy in Baghdad held the Iraqi- American Conference for Developing Franchise Opportunities in Iraq for the period 17-18,Mar.2014 which was attended by representatives of US departments of State and Commerce, number of NIC officials and representatives of local private sector associations.

Dr. Sami al- Araji, NIC chairman assured in his opening speech that this conference is the first of its kind in Iraq and is considered as a unique opportunity to create strategic partnerships between American companies and the local private sector, adding that this conference comes as a complementary to the first one that was held in the beginning of this year and was devoted to discuss the Iraqi market needs for the American services and the legal and administrative  requirements to insert these services to Iraq.

Al- Araji expressed the NIC readiness to submit all facilities and privileges to American companies wishing to enter the Iraqi market and according to the valid Iraqi laws, inviting Iraqi businessmen to invest this opportunity in a well manner to provide the different services to Iraqi families in all provinces.

The US Charge de affairs, Mr. Jan Desrocher expressed his gratitude and appreciation to NIC for hosting this conference which shall reinforce economic relations between the two countries in the way that serve common interests affirming that opening a new market for American goods in Iraq is a goal that the Embassy is working hard to achieve through holding conferences that connect American companies and franchisors with the Iraqi private sector.

Mr. Keith Kurtz, Senior commercial advisor of the US Embassy in Baghdad, in his turn, said that this conference comes according to a business plan developed in coordination with NIC, US Foreign department of commerce and Commercial laws development program and includes three stages starting from specifying potential franchisees by NIC, training the candidates on franchise basics and finally organizing a study tour to prepare the candidates to conduct negotiations to obtain the franchise rights.

Worth mentioning that there are approximately a million franchise company in the United States of America that covers 50% of the sales volume in the American market while it operates 2.6% of the man power in the American private sector and contributes to the US GDP by 4%.

For the Purpose of Developing the Agricultural Sector in Iraq

NIC Receives the Australian Minister of Agriculture

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NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami al- Araji received at the NIC premises on Monday 23.02.2014 the Australian Minister of Agriculture and the accompanied delegation with the attendance of the Iraqi Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ghazi al- Aboodi, a number of officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and NIC and the Australian Ambassador to Baghdad in addition to a number of Iraqi Businessmen, when the two sides discussed the possibility of developing the Iraqi Agricultural sector through presenting the available agricultural investment opportunities to the Australian companies

In the expanded session attended by the two sides, al- Araji assured that the agricultural sector is one of the important economic sectors in Iraq for the promising investment opportunities it has expressing the NIC readiness to submit all privileges and guarantees for Australian investors willing to invest in Iraq according to investment law No. 13 for the year 2006 as amended.

He stated that this meeting had come to exchange thoughts and opinions between the public and private sectors in the two countries in order to create investment partnerships aiming at developing the agricultural sector in the country especially after adopting the free market policy and encouraging the private sector to play a bigger role in the economic development process appreciating the Australian Minister visit and support for the reconstruction and investment process in Iraq.

In her turn, the Australian Minister presented her gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality inviting the Iraqi businessmen to visit Australia to view the Australian experience in agriculture and livestock production and expressing  the Australian Government readiness to provide the necessary support in this sector within the framework of the bilateral benefits between the two countries.

From the Iraqi side, Dr. Ghazi al- Aboodi affirmed that Iraq had witnessed a big development in the agricultural sector as it achieved 80% percent of Iraq’s need of wheat and it is hoped to reach full sufficiency of this crop by the end of this year, where as we reached sufficiency in the production of fruits and vegetables while 50% of livestock needs is covered by the local production  inviting the Australian side to reinforce support in the field of expertise exchange between the two countries.

The attendees from the representatives of the private sector in Iraq submitted a number of suggestions and opinions to reinforce Iraq’s capacities in this vital sector which can be a new resource for income in the country, the meeting also witnessed discussing a number of issues of concern to the economic relations between Iraq and Australia to serve the aspirations of the two countries.

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For the Purpose of viewing the latest stages of work on Bismayah New City Project

NIC organizes a visit for Registrars wishing to have access to the project

NIC organized on Wednesday, 19/02/2014 a new field visit to Bismayah New City project site for registrars to view the latest stages of the work progress and achievement rates reached on site.

NIC media office said in a statement issued in this regard that this visit is the fourth organized by the Commission and had witnessed an increase in the number of visitors. The visit launched from the sales center in Baghdad International Fair to the project site in Bismayah area, it included a tour in the site which had extended to include the concrete precast factories, one of the largest factories in the Middle East , as well as the tunnel being prepared for the electricity and telecommunication wires spanning twenty kilometers underground , the visitors have also been briefed on the mechanism of compacting the concrete pillars used for strengthening the soil and the land leveling process.

 

The registrars expressed their satisfaction for having direct access to what was going on at the site that would send a message of reassurance to all registrars especially that the implementation process is going according to plan drawn and to highest technologies internationally adopted.

This kind of visits is continuously arranged by NIC in coordination with Hanawah Co.  

For the Purpose of upgrading and developing National Skilled Labor force

NIC Chairman Participates in launching the Vocational Training Center Bismayah New City

NIC Chairman, Dr. Sami al- Araji, the Minister of Labor and Social Affair, Mr. Nassar al- Rubaie and M.P Mr. Kadhim al Shimmery  participated in launching the vocational training center in Bismayah new city project that is run by the General Directorate for Vocational Training in the Ministry  of Labor and Social Affair in cooperation with Korean executing Company “Hanawah”. The centre aims at providing national skilled labor force through training Iraqis in the new center workshops.

 NIC Chairman stressed in his opening  speech that establishing such a centre can supply  Bismayah new project with skilled labor force in  construction works field ,that’s where Iraq put skilled labor in priority after cultivation, praising the role of  Ministry  of Labor and Social Affair in support  and giving all facilities to establish this centre in addition to continuous support from  the Minister of Labor and Social Affair to Bismayah new city .

He added the work is proceeding according to plan and the implementing company is committed to its obligations, in the other hand; the year 2015 will witness delivering the first patch of Bismayah housing units, indicating that about (5000) workers are currently working in the project out of (26000) will be attracted within reaching the work in the project its prime.

From his part, the Minister of Labor and Social Affair Mr. Nassar al- Rubaie said that Bismayah new project is the most important residential project in Iraq and establishing a specialized centre using latest methods and approaches in training is an achievement to his   Ministry especially when Iraq is in critical need for the professional cadre, indicating that his Ministry has 36 training centers distributed all over Iraq in various fields and this centre is the only one in construction field.

   At the same time, Mr. mun, senior managers of Hanawah Company expressed his pride with the work in Iraq and establishing the largest residential city in the region and this effort is the cooperation result between NIC and Hanawah Company, adding that the project will provide work opportunities for Iraqi people as well as contributing in stimulating the industry sector and serve Iraq.

The attendee toured in the project site viewing the progress in constructing infrastructure such as precast concrete factories; tunnel which cantinas electricity and communications wires, drinking water treatment plants and sewage.

It’s worth mentioning that the training centre was opened in 5/1/2014 starting with two courses which are forging and moulds carpentry to train 33 persons, and  it is hoped to open another  specializations in the future sessions with 60 days for each session.

The end of next March

Launching the Operations of the Construction in Bismayah New City Project

March shall witness rising the first buildings of Bismayah New City project, where the executing company began in February, the second phase of the process of the foundations construction for the first patch of the project buildings, which will hopefully be delivered to the registered people by the middle of next year as this stage is complementary to the process of laying down the concrete pillars in the soil.

The aforesaid information was delivered by an official source in Hanawah company to the Media Office in the National Investment Commission , explaining that the primary Concrete layer  is a layer of small  thickness to be poured directly on the surface of the soil , in order to prepare the ground for the later construction stages, in addition to that this layer helps to identify sites to install  rebar works in an easier way than it is when set directly on the soil by lines drawn on the surface.

He added that this process is followed by the realization of the rebar works that helps to enhance the durability of the concrete foundations, where the installation of hundreds of steel rods on the surface of the light concrete layer connecting them with the visible parts of the solid concrete pillars, and then followed by a second casting process in special moulds in the way that makes the rebar pervasive and covered completely by concrete.

Meanwhile, the source said that the company launched a process of trial production of the concrete foundations in Bismayah factories, indicating that the concrete foundation or what is known as (Socle) is one of the types of pre-cast concrete, which are produced in the site factory aiming at strengthening and enhancing the foundations, as they are the link between the outer wall of the housing unit (Sandwich panel) and the roof or the ground.

It is worth mentioning that the first patch to be delivered to the registrars is located near Baghdad Gate on the road linking between Baghdad and Kut, and within the next few months people shall significantly see buildings rise in the city.