Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

I believe I read in previous posts that they ARE returning to parliment!
Check some of the older posts.

Task Force helps revitalize Iraq's industries
09/01/2007
Source: United States Army

A team of 25 industrial leaders and business analysts is headed to Iraq today to join 35 others already there working to get almost 200 idle Iraqi factories up and running.

The industrial revitalization initiative is part of a sweeping plan to get Iraqis back to work, restore their livelihoods and jump-start Iraq's economic base, Paul Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for business transformation, told Pentagon reporters yesterday.

Brinkley said the effort has another equally important objective: to ensure that Iraqis don't turn to terrorism simply because they see no other way to feed their families.

Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad last month there's strong evidence that rampant unemployment is fueling the insurgency. He pointed to the example of a former factory worker who had turned to planting improvised explosive devices for the insurgency so he could feed and care for his family.

Reopening industries and improving job satisfaction among Iraqis would go a long way toward neutralizing the forces giving rise to sectarian violence, Chiarelli told reporters.

"Putting young men and middle-aged men to work would have a tremendous impact on this level of violence we're seeing in and around Baghdad and also in the other provinces," he said.

Operating under the auspices of the Task Force for Improved Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, DoD and other U.S. agencies, Iraqi officials and the corporate world are working to reopen 193 industrial operations once owned by the Iraqi government.

These businesses, which have sat idle since Saddam Hussein's fall in 2003, once employed 10 percent of the Iraqi population, Brinkley said. But their impact on the Iraqi economy was even greater, because private-sector companies provided goods and services to the government-run factories. So when the factories closed their doors, the private companies' customer bases dried up and they, too, were forced to close.

The U.S. government's economic effort in Iraq initially focused on reconstruction, with an assumption that Iraq's private sector would eventually take over the idle government-owned businesses, Brinkley explained. But that never happened.

So the Task Force for Improved Business and Stability Operations in Iraq, which was working to improve DoD contracting operations in Iraq, shifted its focus in May to stepping up the process.

"We quickly came to the conclusion that we had a huge near-idle industrial base, that, reengaged, could put a lot of people back to work and restore normalcy to a sizeable amount of the population," Brinkley said. "So we immediately embarked on turning that industrial base back on."

Initial plans call for opening the first 10 factories quickly, with the estimated $5 million in start-up costs to be paid by the Iraqi government, he said.

Many of those 10 companies, which provide goods and services ranging from building materials to industrial products to clothing and textiles to drugs and medical supplies, are expected to open within the next six months, Brinkley said.

"Our expectation is that every month in 2007, we should be putting thousands of Iraqis back to work across the country," he said. "And if we do that, we will create a whole cascading series of beneficial impacts."

The challenges the task force faces are enough to stump even the most visionary Harvard Business School graduate.

"The work involved is (a) hard, roll-up-your sleeves" effort that requires getting on factory floors with plant mangers to determine what's needed to get it restarted, Brinkley said. "What are the constraints? Does it have supply? Does it have customers? Are the customers ready to buy things? If they don't have customers, how can we generate demand for them? Do they have working capital? Are the ministries ready to infuse working capital into the operation? Those are all the things you deal with in business."

Task force members are rotating into Iraq two weeks out of every month to address these issues and help get the factories running.

"What we are doing is assessing these factories," Brinkley said. "We are bringing in expertise. We are bringing international industry to bear to create demand for these factories."

But Brinkley emphasized that the goal is for the Iraqi government, not the United States, to fund the effort. "We want this to have an Iraqi face. This is Iraq's industry," Brinkley said. "And we want Iraq to be involved in getting it restarted, and they are extremely supportive of this."

Once the factories are opened, Brinkley said the U.S. military will contract with them as much as possible for goods and services supporting U.S. military operations in Iraq. Most of this business, which amounts to about $4 billion a year, currently goes to companies outside Iraq.

This will enable the United States to continue supporting its deployed troops in a way that reduces the logistical burden but also stimulates economic growth in Iraq, he said.

"We've set a collective objective that we would like to see 25 percent of that $4 billion flowing into the Iraqi economy within a year," he said.

As this effort moves forward, Brinkley acknowledged that newly reopened factories have the potential to become terrorist targets. Task force members, however, are optimistic that newly reemployed local workers will help prevent violence that threatens their livelihoods.

Brinkley noted that even in the most violent areas of Iraq, many of the empty factories went untouched by insurgents and looters alike. In some cases, new equipment, computers and inventory remained in place, a sign, he said, that local leaders protected them against damage or theft because they recognized their value to the community.

"That's a good story because what we think is chaotic is actually controlled," he said. "Somebody has made it clear, 'Don't touch that factory.' That's a good sign. We can get that factory turned back on."

This initial effort will have "a huge cascading effect" in Iraq, where a single breadwinner supports 13 other people. By comparison, the average U.S. worker supports four people, he said.

Ultimately, Brinkley said economic progress in Iraq will help drive other forms of progress forward. Reopening factories isn't the full answer, he said, but it is an important part of the overall strategy for success. "It's a piece of the puzzle," he said.

When Iraqis have the opportunity to return to their jobs and provide for their families, no longer will terrorism appear to be their only financial option, he said. When this happens, "an insurgent (will) become a zealot, not just someone trying to make a living," he said.

http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=2911


Last days we are only reading more and more positive economic articles.

Coincedence a few days before Bush is going to announce his package!

Don't think so!

The sentiment is turning and oh boy what will that dinar profit of that!

Originally Posted by kerby team

Quote:
Speaking news received from governorate of Najaf that Mr. Muqtada al-Sadr discussed with religious authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the current issue of the suspension of its participation in Sadri government and the parliament and the need to return the decision to boycott without mentioning that any decision has been reached during the meeting in this regard


SGS, does this mean that the a;-sadr guy is boycotting the parliment again or is thsi referring that he is returning?

kerby team

he is returning and going to be a good boy supposedly.

"Trade" denies obstructing the export of dates and the granting big facilities to Iraqi traders

Baghdad : Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed The Egyptian Ministry of Trade strongly stated by some suppliers to pass on a block in the export procedures and published by some media. The ministry in a statement issued by the Information Office that the priority work of the ministry is to facilitate the task of Iraqi traders in the export of dates to the outside world, the company is in the process of import and export to assume its role in the development and the development of this important aspect of the business.

The statement added that the Minister of Trade, Dr. Abdel farmer Sudanese instructed the formation of committees in support of this trend and contribute to the coordination with Iraqi suppliers to find the best foreign markets have been licensing the export of all the companies that had submitted requests for leave and during certain periods and in a manner that does not hinder or impede the work of these, but offers the best services for them.

The statement pointed out that the ministry is seeking to regulate the import and export operations, in a flexible manner, transparent and supports the work of Iraqi merchants and the supplier and to lift all barriers set by the procedures and mechanisms precedent, pointing to instruct Dr. facilitate the task of all Sudanese businessmen and services, thus helping the development of export trade of Iraq. 252 and re-segregated Siasiaali service According to a statement from the Media Office Ministry of Commerce, said that the ministry has 252 politically segregated into service after having completed the Central Committee for examining the files separated politicians and archives of relevant work, and is this action in light of the minister directing the judge to find precise steps and rapid completion of all requests separated politicians for the purpose of providing a decent living housing for this segment of the community which has suffered from the scourge of injustice and oppression result of the repressive practices of the organs of the Principles.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Commerce returned to service since 2003 / September 4 more than three thousand political dismissed for work in companies and the multi-ministry. Intends to sign contracts to import wheat The Iraqi Ministry of Trade and was in the process of signing contracts, rapid import large quantities of wheat. She said in a statement to Haan and Trade Minister to form a high-level committee for the importation of these quantities and discuss the offers received from major international companies and completed contracting procedures for the purpose of supplying these quantities for distribution to government and private mills scattered throughout the country.

The statement added that the reason for the delay in the delivery of these materials is that there are difficulties in transport and not in the routine procedures in contracting procedures undertaken by the ministry with companies and businessmen. He pointed out that the Ministry of Commerce is serious about providing most food items that make up the ration card.

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Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

he is returning and going to be a good boy supposedly.

...or they don't get a piece of oil pie with their coffee!

Planning Minister: many measures to treat inflation | Iraq Updates

Planning Minister: many measures to treat inflation

09 January 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

The Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Ghaleb Baban has specified two entrances to treat the consumer price indexes inflation happened in Baghdad.

In statement to as-Sabah newspaper, Baban said: that the first entrance would be on the level of the cash system through rising the interest in the banks. He added that Planning Ministry had approved that the solving of inflation is coming through relive and activity to the productive sectors, referring that the ministry has not found response from the other ministries concerning this project.

...or the US army on their front poarch to wash it down their throats!

I believe that I had read that the HCL had passed and was enacted, true or not. And if so wouldn't the oil companies be over there like yesterday to setup there drilling equipment to get going soon as possible and last but not least if that is so Dont they have to have to reva the money to make it worth there effort or while?
Thanks
benzboy

p.s. I miss the shout box, please bring it back neno!!!

Originally Posted by Par77

...or the US army on their front poarch to wash it down their throats!

Exactly, one way or the other, that Hydrocarbon Law will come this week!

How, who cares, if it is there so that they can start!

From now on we can expect anything!

Originally Posted by benzboy

I believe that I had read that the HCL had passed and was enacted, true or not. And if so wouldn't the oil companies be over there like yesterday to setup there drilling equipment to get going soon as possible and last but not least if that is so Dont they have to have to reva the money to make it worth there effort or while?
Thanks
benzboy

p.s. I miss the shout box, please bring it back neno!!!

Hydrocarbon Law is done, but need to be passed by Parliament.
Sunday I have read it will be approved by Parliament within days.

Today there is parliament session about budget and unemployment, but I also think the HCL is their agenda as top priority.

Bush needs to tell something good tommorow!

After that it will be enacted. We also will see the Investment Law and I am sure that we will see that beautiful dinar raise with bigger steps then 5 points a day!

The moments have come where we all have been waiting for.
Some longer then others but we are all good!