Baghdad – IA
Today, Sunday, the General Company for Iron and Steel in Basra Governorate revealed the government’s agreement with a Chinese company to establish an industrial city with an area of 3,000 dunams. While it saw that Iraq is on the verge of a major industrial revolution, it confirmed that Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani is interested in supporting the iron and steel industry and supporting Local product.
The Director General of the company affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, Abbas Hayal, told the (INA): “There is great governmental interest and from the highest executive authority, represented by Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, in the industrial projects that have been stopped for more than two decades, and the General Iron and Steel Company has stopped.” Since 2003 before returning to work.
He added, “The government’s interest does not depend only on making allocations in the budget law, but there is personal follow-up by the Prime Minister, through the Minister of Industry and Minerals, for the development and progress of work and achievement. An official position is submitted monthly to the Prime Minister, and he follows up and overcomes obstacles in many matters through “Make quick decisions and even communicate directly with the relevant ministers.”
He continued, “Our company is not the only one specialized in iron and steel. Rather, there are companies in the private sector that also produce rebar, for example. We had a meeting with the Prime Minister about two weeks ago under the auspices of the Board of Advisors, and there is a special committee formed to follow up on the development of the national industry, and in fact, among the demands was to protect the product.” The National Bank, the government and the Council of Ministers were truly supportive and decisions were actually issued to protect the national product, especially rebar.”
He noted that “with the large reconstruction and construction movement and the drive to build more than a million housing units, there are existing factories in Iraq and new factories currently being built in several governorates, and there is a tendency for the government to contract with one of the large Chinese companies in the field of iron and steel, and it was visited in China before.” A delegation headed by the Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Battal, and I was one of the members of the Iraqi delegation, and now there are negotiations during this period, and two days ago there was a meeting in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals.”
He pointed out, “Also this week we have meetings with the Chinese company. This company was granted three thousand dunums of iron and steel land, and a large industrial city will be built. This matter receives the care and attention of the Prime Minister, and this will bring about a major industrial revolution within the country in addition to the existing factories.” Including the iron and steel factory, to meet the local need not only in terms of prices, but also in consumer protection and the high quality of the Iraqi rebar produced in our company with high quality. Sometimes there is no control over the border crossings and some types of rebar are entered that are not within the specifications. “required.”
He noted that “the iron and steel factory in Basra has been halted since 2003, and its capacity after the completion of work on it will reach more than 600 thousand tons and the contract capacity is more than 500 thousand tons, and we will begin production at contract capacities,” pointing out that “during the next few months we will witness the opening of the steel factory.” Which produces (billet) and which is complementary to the (rolling mill) factory, and Iraqi production will meet an important aspect of the national need.”