Thread: Archive News - Iraqi Dinar Think Tank - 01/10/09 - 27/03/10

Iraq Fiber Gateway to The World

Computer Data Networks (CDN ) - Iraq office, a regional Systems Integrator and ISP is pleased to announce that high speed Fiber Optic connection between Iraq and the rest of the world is now fully operational. In November, Iraq's ITPC and CDN announced signing of the contract under which CDN will operate and market southern portion of Iraq's new DWDM Fiber Optic Network which covers the entire country. CDN is responsible for handling the southern portion which runs from Baghdad to Basrah and on to borders of Kuwait and Iran.

Following extensive testing and fine-tuning, the Network is now fully operational and is already handling customer traffic. Iraqi Ministry of Communications and CDN believe that the new fiber connection will allow regional operators, carriers and Internet Service Providers to exchange traffic with fast-growing user population of Iraq.

"This new addition to our branches across the region comes just at the right time and the right place" said Mr. Dejan Nikolin, Sr. VP of Sales & Marketing at CDN. "This marks a strategic milestone in CDN's expansion. We consider the opening of our Bahrain office as a step forward in our company's vision to more rapidly and affordably meet the needs of our clientele. We at CDN are confident that our clients will enjoy the quality of the services, products, and solutions we already provide in the other markets across the region."

Mr. Sadeq Shehab, who is in charge of CDN Bahrain added "With significant experience, resources, and infrastructure, CDN will offer solutions in the key areas of Data Processing, Telecommunications, Networking, and Security. The Manama office will heighten our profile within the Gulf region, where we foresee significant opportunities for further ICT investment and growth."

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...%20The%20World

The Iraqi government suggest to boycott the Arab summit because of Gaddafi's comments

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, he said that he will adopt the defense of the Iraq issue during his meeting with a number of opponents of the political process in the country, viewing it as interference in Iraqi affairs.

He described al-Dabbagh told the Arab t.elevision channel "free" Gaddafi's comments Balfezp and unacceptable interference in internal affairs, and that as long as people heard of Gaddafi, ideas and useful suggestions and comments are ridiculous, and that the Iraqi people is now waging a new experience to the thought of Gaddafi and his regime and he does not understand this missing link in the democratic experiment his country, but it must be for others to respect the will of the Iraqi people.

He alluded to the possibility of al-Dabbagh Summit County on the back of Gaddafi's comments.

http://radionawa.com/ar/NewsDetailN....000&LinkID=158

Washington fears the aspirations of Allawi and al-Maliki and tend to them coming in one government
WASHINGTON - Hussain Abdul-Hussain

The top question on the candidate preferred by the United States to head the government coalition and form the next FAQ in Arab circles, in general, and Iraq in particular, and the question was who would prefer the United States between the two front-runner for prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki its current or former Iyad Allawi. So far, Washington is trying to portray itself as a neutral partner for Iraq, it would deal with each of the elected by the Iraqi people. But the scenes foreign policy in the U.S. capital, experience and wishes of the conversations indicate that Americans have also wishes to see certain people, they take power in Baghdad.

Kurd leads the list of Washington's allies, these are independent of the rival forces in the Middle East, committed to their pledges to the U.S. since before the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, and have a leadership that enjoys popular support in the areas of influence, which Kurdish officials away from the populist Atlav permits to gain political goals.

The last place on the list of rivals Iraqis, Vtanlh personalities and groups working under the direction of Iran and in coordination with the Permanent. These include the likes of Jamal Al-Jafar, also known as Abu Mahdi Mohandes, and was accused by the United States played the role of the right hand Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force emanating from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. As well as personalities who do not want Washington to deal with them, spoiled child previously Ahmed Chalabi and his Iraqi National Congress, and the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his movement. In general, decision-makers think the Americans that the Iraqi National Alliance list contains the largest number of Iran's allies, who are playing a role in the incitement against the United States. Therefore, U.S. officials talk privately with caution on this alliance, and wish that is not up to leadership positions.

And between the Kurds, in the first place, and the Iraqi National Coalition, in last place, you find the United States a number of allied groups that Washington wants to see control of Iraq. Top groups allied with the United States of coalition rule of law, under the leadership of al-Maliki and the Iraqi List, headed by Allawi.

And participates in the forefront of America's friends - not the Kurds - a coalition of Iraq's unity, despite the fact that America does not count for much because a recent account of the weakness of his popular support. Thus, America finds itself faced with two options for the leadership of the Alliance a friend in Iraq, including Kurds: the first led by al-Maliki, and the second posed by Allawi. Here, is divided into officials in Washington in support of one of the two, while emerging attempts by both men - through media statements and close them - to give the impression that they preferred to Washington.

America loves al-Maliki, and belief straight, and away from corruption, and serious in the leadership of Iraq towards a better future. But the Prime Minister raised some fears among U.S. officials in some of his actions, such as tendency to limit the powers in his hands, raising controversy about the possibility of turning into a «Putin» Iraq, referring to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who succeeded in reaching a model rule Chkassani cover Democrat. America does not mind as well as the return of Allawi to head the government, although officials fear the biggest transformation of the Iraqi leader to a single governor in Iraq, especially as the representation is limited to the Sunni minority, this minority raised fears in the governance of both the Kurds and majority Shiites.

The scenarios that have been talked about in political circles, closed to Iraq after the elections, the two officials in the U.S. capital to the conclusion that it is almost impossible for Allawi to form a coalition government, Erd year's relationship is the most strained by Tardahm on central issues, federalism, and the fate of Kirkuk. Further, it is difficult engagement Allawi of the Iraqi National Coalition, an alliance, given the hostility of the current regional Daamehma me, say, Saudi Arabia and Iran, respectively, as Americans believe that Riyadh will try to impose the exclusion of Allawi's allies, Iran, and Tehran will run in turn promote the development of its allies and the exclusion of pro-Saudi Arabia. Americans know that the differences on federalism, which is claimed by Kalcard Shiite parties loyal to Iran, and Central, which supported the year, an obstacle will stand in the face of an alliance between Iraq and the Iraqi National Coalition.

In the event that the Maliki to form a coalition government after the elections, according to the American scenario, it would be easier to enter the Kurds, but that Maliki will need the remaining blocks dismal - in his attempt to lead in the absence of the Iraqi National Coalition and Iraqi - to get half the seats in parliament, and this is a complex task, and non-guaranteed, and will thus possible coalition at the mercy of small blocks able to imposed their agendas under penalty out of the government at any time. So, likely American circles that Maliki is a rapprochement with the allies of yesterday in the Iraqi National Coalition for a sufficient number of seats, if they were added to the Kurds. Thus becomes the next government, a strong and resembles, to a large extent, the structure of the current government. And despite the fact that America wants to see al-Maliki and the Kurds in power, but they would like to see Allawi - and the Sunni bloc, which supported - as well as chairs, and prefer to be ruled out Iran's allies.

Accordingly, it becomes the preferred scenario the U.S. is winning in Iraq, the coalition brings together ministerial-Maliki, Allawi and the Kurds, which would be solid with a large number of seats, and will represent the three major groups in Iraq, Shiites and Sunnis and Kurds, and improve the future Iraqi government's relationship with the neighboring countries of America's allies, like Saudi Arabia. But the American circles aware of the difficulty of achieving the scenario preferred by Washington to multiple factors, most notably the personal antipathy between al-Maliki, Allawi, making installation impossible without the government's collection of the three major blocs, which seemed that he would push to reach a worst-case scenario in the thinking of Americans, any entry allies Iran power, along with al-Maliki, at the expense of Allawi. Here the United States will continue to play a neutral role, which is talking about, and will continue to seek long-term partnership with Iraq, no matter who was in the Iraqi government or the presidency.

http://www.alaalem.com/index.php?aa=news&id22=4947

Oil: The third round of licenses will be according to the exploratory area in the event of approval

Oil Ministry confirmed it had not decided so far to announce a third licensing round, but will focus in the event of approval on the board exploratory.

An official source in the ministry to the press department at the National Center for Information Maatalegt that if a third round of licensing, the ministry will invite companies to explore new oil wells, not to develop oil fields, adding that give companies a means of tracts of land, for carrying out explorations and research from the fields and oil wells potential.

Meanwhile, a source said the committees set up by the ministry to negotiate with neighboring countries on the common fields, continuing the process of negotiation in order to develop appropriate solutions to the demarcation of the fields, knowledge of the rights of each of these fields.

He said it was hoped in the coming days for agreements with these countries to resolve the issue and starting to develop common fields.

http://www.nmc.gov.iq/mnews/2010/3/24_3.htm

Iraqi oil production straining markets?

WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Oil production in Iraq will likely have a dramatic impact on production goals of neighboring oil giants Saudi Arabia and Iran, analysts said in Washington.

Baghdad officials in the wake of successful oil auctions in December said Iraq would one day rival Saudi Arabia in terms of oil production.

As Iraq inches closer to its goal of producing 12 million barrels of crude per day by 2020, pressure to tighten the oil market and raise prices may be undermined, writes energy analyst Greg Priddy in Foreign Affairs magazine.

Iraq added terms to its contracts with foreign oil companies that deal with output cuts, something Priddy, an analyst at the Eurasia Group, says shows Baghdad is wary of an over-supplied market.

Riyadh, he said, may have to discuss production quotas with the main oil cartel to make room for increased oil production from Iraq. Iran, meanwhile, is likely to suffer financially as it presses for ever-increasing oil prices to fill government coffers.

"All of this, of course, is dependent on whether Iraq's internal stability permits large-scale oil development to move at a rapid pace, which remains a big 'if' at this point," cautions Priddy.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Reso...9431269436201/

Iraq eyes non-oil investments, production sharing - INTERVIEW

IRAQ-INVESTMENT/ (INTERVIEW)

* Iraq wants to lure investment, revamp non-oil sectors
* Foreign investors offered production sharing deals
* Government needs to step up economic reforms -minister
By Aseel Kami

BAGHDAD, March 23 (Reuters) - Iraq wants to revamp its battered economy and boost non-oil revenue by offering production-sharing deals with state-run companies to foreign investors, a deputy industry minister said.

Iraq is trying to shake off the legacy of years of violence, sanctions and economic decline by opening up its financial and industrial sectors and luring foreign investment and expertise to help it rebuild.

The country has multibillion-dollar oil deals in the pipeline, but analysts say it must grow its non-oil sectors if it is to have a viable economy and reduce unemployment, which is still high seven years after the U.S. invasion.

Iraq wants to form joint ventures with foreign investors to overhaul some 240 idle factories around the country over the next five years, Deputy Minister of Industry and Minerals Adel Karim said on Tuesday.

"The ministry's new policy is to offer these companies to investors, which means to start a strategic partnership with international companies," he told Reuters in an interview. "The best way to do so up to the moment is through production sharing."

As an example, the ministry plans to sign a production-sharing agreement with France's Lafarge SA in a few days, for a cement manufacturing plant in the southern province of Kerbala, he said.

The factory, set up in the 1980s, was designed to produce 2 million tonnes of cement annually. Lafarge plans to spend from $120 million to $160 million to reach 90 percent of that production target in 2 1/2 years, Karim said, but gave no further details.

Sectors open for investments range from construction, engineering, petrochemicals and fertilisers, to food, d.rugs and textiles, he said. Many of the factories are either outdated, were looted in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion or are located in areas still controlled by Islamist insurgents.

Karim said despite all the problems his ministry is facing, it had managed to award a few tenders to foreign companies and restore some factories, bringing them back on line. The ministry spent more than $1 billion to rehabilitate factories in the past two years, and plans to allocate another $500 million in 2010.

But Iraq is in desperate need of foreign cash.

"We are ready to make a deal with any investor who has the will to invest or to rent one of our factories for a specified time to rehabilitate it," he said.

Last year, Iraq signed a deal worth more than $42 million with Swedish truck maker Scania for a car manufacturing plant.

MORE REFORMS NEEDED

The Iraqi government should ramp up efforts to overhaul dilapidated infrastructure, Karim said. The national grid only supplies a few hours of power each day and the intermittent electricity supply is one of Iraqis' chief complaints.

Violence has fallen sharply in the last two years, but daily attacks are common. Iraq's commercial, legal, and regulatory frameworks are also still largely untested.

"We as an Iraqi state should provide investors with enough benefits to lure them to come to Iraq," Karim said. "Other neighbouring countries have ... a better atmosphere that encourages investments, but we have an atmosphere that repels investments."

Karim also said Iraq needs 100,000 tractors, valued at between $28,000 and $38,000, and is evaluating bids from three companies including U.S. firm John Deere and Case New Holland. An announcement on the winning bidder is expected in the next few weeks, he said.

http://www.forexyard.com/en/news/Ira...920Z-INTERVIEW

Iraq’s fragile boat

This country of ours no longer has a strong ceiling to protect it. Therefore, it has been so insecure in the past seven years. The ceiling is so fragile it could not guard anyone seeking cover.

The rivals of the political process used all that they could lay their hands on and deployed it into the sectarian war of 2005 and 2006 which they designed, experienced and were ******* of turning it into an electoral tool.

They resorted to the sectarian card because they felt that Iraqis have entered a new stage in which they want to dump this card. Nonetheless, they used it. For them Iraqis will have to return to the square one with bloodshed being its distinctive characteristic.

But what worries the players of the sectarian card is the fact that Iraqis are now aware of their game. They now realize that sectarianism was imposed on them, that there were some who fuelled it and turned it into a political platform to win votes in elections which brought governments that paralyzed the country, internally and externally, in the course of four years.

How naïve those using the sectarian card have been. They feign to be fighting each other, threatening each other in a bid to rally people behind them to grab power. But little do they know that they are sailing in a fragile boat amid rough seas with regional and international predators looking on.

It is true that some of the sectarian-based factions are stronger than others due to their armed militias they have officially incorporated into the armed forces. Some others have even more militia power with their silencer guns and booby traps.

But they all are mistaken. Militias and guns are not a measure of power because the land they stand on is so loose and it may not be the land they originate from.

In the current commotion in the Iraqi political scene, mouths will silence the guns. If not, our sinking country will only add more adjectives suitable to describe its collapse, weakness, corruption and death.

No one will ever forget the stars of the sectarian war and the death squads. They have not totally disappeared from the Iraqi arena.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index...03-24\kurd.htm

Baghdad gets a helping hand

With prayer and lunch finished, seven Iraqi government officials return to lessons at the Thunderbird School of Global Management , Arizona. The men, all high-ranking members of Iraq's Ministry of Interior - the hub of the country's internal security operations - were at the school as the capstone to a three-part ****utive development programme in the US. The programme was developed by the US forces' Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission and the MoI.

The goal is to build stability within Iraq and help Iraq's MoI become self-sufficient by providing it with the management know-how and leadership skills needed to participate in the global business community, says Colonel James Hess, the senior US forces logistics adviser for the MoI. The trip was also a response to the MoI's anti-corruption drive, he adds. "These men need all the help they can get to keep their ministry fair and stable," he says.

Although the US military has worked with other business schools, for example Kenan-Flagler at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been delivering custom programmes for senior flag officers - one- to four-star admirals and generals - for the US Navy and US Army for more than six years, Col Hess believes this is the first time the military has used a business school as an extension of both military advice and to help reconstruct a country.

"This really is the first of its kind," says Col Hess.

The Iraqi participants, mainly consisting of generals, included an assistant deputy minister of infrastructure, a deputy director-general of contracting and a deputy director-general of finance. In recent years, Iraq's police force has grown from 50,000 to 600,000 to become its largest employer and it was hoped the US programme would offer valuable lessons. Before arriving in Arizona, the group visited the New York Police Department for tips on managing fleets of thousands of employees and the Center for Supply Chain Research at Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University. Smeal has long-term contracts with the US marine corps, army and defence logistics agency, says Susan Purdum, the administrative director of the centre. The school gave the Iraqi group intensive lessons on coping with a growing police force, supply chain management and fundamentals to help improve the MoI's logistics capability.

The third stop at Thunderbird - selected for its stance on ethics and social responsibility - included a 12-session e.xecutive education course. The design of the Thunderbird part of the programme was a collaborative process, with Thunderbird Corporate Learning working closely with Itam. Paul Kinsinger, Thunderbird programme director, a clinical professor of business intelligence and a former CIA official, hopes the courses will make the Iraqi officials more aware of the global business and organisational changes that have taken place during the past 25 years. "Iraq was largely sheltered from the world by Saddam's authoritarian regime," says Prof Kinsinger.

Once troops withdraw, says Prof Kinsinger, Iraq will resemble a runner entering a world race in which the existing competitors have already completed 20 laps. "There is a lot of catching up to do."

The sessions at Thunderbird covered the impact of globalisation during the years Iraq was under Saddam's Hussein's regime, basic budgeting practices, supply chain logistics, information technology and negotiation skills. Student feedback was enthusiastic. General M.G. Hazim Mohammed Al-Obaidi was delighted by the session on budget tactics. "This helped me better understand the total cost of products purchased throughout their life cycle," he says. However, he would have liked more time for visiting US industries and wished that their mid-level logistics managers could have attended. "Not only upper-level managers need this training," he adds.

Since returning to Iraq, Gen Hazim has developed training courses - based on his lessons from his US trip - to train other MoI officers. And the MoI and the government of Iraq are reported to be interested in continuing to work with Thunderbird. At Smeal, Ms Purdum says that Iraqi officials are reviewing an inventory management system and will need future training if it is installed. She hopes that business schools will continue to help Iraq. "We bring such a different perspective than what is offered elsewhere," she says.

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidFT...Helping%20Hand

Iraq, Syria discuss cooperation in transportation sector

The Iraqi minister of transportation has discussed with the Syrian prime minister means of boosting cooperation in the transportation sector, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said on Wednesday.

“The two officials discussed in the Syrian capital Damascus means of developing the work of the Iraqi-Syrian Land Transportation Company and facilitating the procedures for the transportation of people and freight by rail…,” the agency said on its official web site.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=129095

CBI’s sales drop to 168m on Thursday

The Central Bank of Iraq’s (CBI) dollar sales fell to $168.910 million in its daily auction on Thursday, compared to $266.160 million in the previous session.

“The demand hit $5.720 million in cash, covered at an exchange rate of 1,183 Iraqi dinars per dollar, and $163.190 million in foreign transfers outside the country, covered at an exchange rate of 1,173 Iraqi dinars per dollar,” according to a CBI news bulletin received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

None of the 15 banks that participated in today’s session offered to sell dollars.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=129136