Fish Industry in Iraq

Iraq has a limited coastal area that borders the gulf  in addition there have been major environmental changes to Iraqi’s coastal as result of the draining of the extensive marshes in southern Iraq by diversion of major rivers around the marsh areas .

The impact of the change in  environment has been a dramatic decline in marine fish landing also 2003 war has further reduced fishing activity in gulf and the Shatt Al Arab waterway . the industry the last years entirely artisanal in nature and fishing techniques used by fishers include trawl and nets .

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their branches and lakes are the main sources of inland fresh water in Iraq although flows in these major river systems have been reducing in recent years .

The Euphrates and Middle East fish Farms , Iraq’s largest and best designed hatcheries , were operating at less more than 40% capacity due to conflict , and production problems .

Masquf Iraqi famous grilled fish

Baghdad  prides itself of making the best of the Masguf  (Iraqi grilled fish) .

Masguf is  the fish caught live and weighed and the master cook clean it and grill it using wood for fire in especial Iraqi way the cooking typically takes between one to one and half hours depending on the size of the fish .

Tourism in Kurdistan

Shanadar park

As known North of Iraq is full of tourism places in Iraq . The Kurdistan Region is an ideal for those seeking perfect mountain scenery and ancient archeological sites off the beaten track.  During the hot summer in Iraq the local and foreigners enjoy the natural and the cooler weather in north Iraq .

Despite the continuing violence in many regions in Iraq Kurdistan totally secure area in Iraq  .

Kurdistan Mountains

  Kurdistan region can be viewed as an outcome of the stable security situation in the region investment has drowned into the tourism sector  since 2006 and total number of 40 licensed projects have been dedicated to the sector , mostly to handle greater increments in demand  for  new hotels and resorts and other service for  foreigner .

   this year Kurdistan Region’s  announced to develop more than 53 tourist sites including Bekhal Resort .

Companies from Lebanon and Austria undertaking the design of the project they new announcement for the project increase the tourism 75% in the last six months in comparison to the last year .

A Kurdistan Tourism investment department announced that they expects 3 millions tourists to visit in 2012 up from 1.7 million in 2011. 

Time Square in Basra

Basra Investment Commission has decided an investment authorization  for a 162 millions dollar tourism project in central Basra

The project to be build on a 31000 square meter site is intended to run for 2  years the licensed company to build the project is Dier Company .

Dier VP announced that Basra Time Square project will achieve great benefits and will be a significant milestone in Basra .

The project includes a large mall containing 2000 stores in addition to other service utilities and also  7 stars hotel as master hotel in the project with 3 four star 12 floor hotels and public park over an area 100,000 square meter .

Basra government announced that the style of the project is going to be in line with Basra culture and history in modern structure way the project includes tourist apartments to increase the tourism industry in Basra . 

Microsoft in Maysan Iraq

 

The government committee in Maysan province announced that Maysan met with Microsoft representative in Middle East and they offer a contract to work in big project to build a E – government in Maysan .

Microsoft announced that will be partner with Iraq Base legend lands

The project include electronic systems specializing in the governance and including the system staff personal in all institutions of the province and queries electronic system .

Microsoft signed the contract with Maysan government  and MS manager of business development called this step is a big step for the company and the country .

Also Microsoft officially and locally represented in Iraq  to provide Microsoft licenses and support service for our clients and resellers .

In the same time the government of Iraq going to activate a laws to protect property and use of all companies Software in Iraq .

 

Delete Zeros from Iraqi Dinar

One Thousand Dinars

Economist have decided  that the long term project of deleting Zeros from the Iraqi currency which the Central Bank in Baghdad is planning to operate need more time and study  . the central banks decision to delete the three zeros is not a new decision in the long run .  economist many countries applied like this decision like Germany but in Iraq case there is different situation  because the country still suffering from structural problems  even there is a high purchase power in and unemployment rat decrease but like this project need to be done in the right time .

The central bank announced that removing the three zeros from Iraqi currency will improve the economics status of the country.

Iraqi One Dinar

The central Bank of Baghdad announced deleting the three zeros must be in the beginning of the year and not in the middle because that will create accounting problem in Budget of the government.

The Central Bank  ask the government for more time to do more research and implement the project in the right time .

Iraqi government planning  to start the project in the beginning of 2013  but proposal came from members of the finance Committee in Iraqi parliament to give them more time to study all the sequence after changing the currency .

New Hilton Hotel in Erbil

Hilton Worldwide to expand footprint in Iraq

Hilton has announced a new plan in Iraq Kurdistan with the signing of management agreement with Mihtab Group to build and mange the first Hilton Hotel and resort property in the most growing city in Erbil north of Iraq .

The new Hilton Hotel will be in Erbil the hotel includes 300 rooms and 30 suites and further 10 chalets featuring a large health club and outdoor and indoor pool and an upscale retail arcade and spa at Hilton location one of the fastest growing spa concepts in the world .  the location will be in extensive  landscaped ground in an upscale residential and commercial district in north Erbil an area famous for its attractive natural , mountainous landscape as well as its close proximity to the city’s main access road .

Hilton will open its first hotel in Iraq

 

Dining options contains  two specialty  restaurants and destination bar , lobby lounge and pool bar and the Hotel also boast a substantial selection of business and event facilities with five meeting rooms , two boardrooms and one of the largest multi purpose ballrooms in the city with capacity for up to 1000 people .

Hilton Erbil Hotel and Spa is set to be an outstanding landmark property  and target clients from Middle East area .

Iraqi Young architect to design Council of Ministers new building

Council of Ministers New Building in Baghdad

Iraq has recently witnessed the birth of a new talent in architecture design. Recently, the talent and creativity show, TEDx Baghdad, hosted Manhal al-Haboobi who won the bid to design the new building of the Council of Ministers’ building in Baghdad.

Manhal Al Habhobi

Al-Haboobi studied philosophy before engineering, which resulted in the historical inspiration of the new building. He was inspired by the philosophy of building and construction of the towers and buildings in ancient Iraq, Mesopetamia.

The design was described as dynamic and expresses the meaning of freedom to the visitors of the new building.

The new design was inspired mainly by the Sumerian language and Islamic arts that shaped Iraq throughout history. It gives Iraq a blend of the past and the present.

Officials described the design as historic and inspirational. They also called it a continuation to the art and architecture that Iraq mastered throughout history.

Iraq reviews new Metro Baghdad designs before construction bidding

The French engineering and consulting firm SYSTRA has recently finished designing Metro Baghdad, a proposed metro system that aims to eliminate traffic in the Iraqi capital.

Amanat Baghdad which oversees the project is now studying the new design with in cooperation with Iraqi engineers and university professors.

According to the design, the new metro system will have two main lines that pass through most of the neighborhoods in Baghdad. The first line will be 18 kilometers long and includes 20 stations. The second line will be 21 kilometers long and will have 21 stations.

Baghdad Metro will include a 26 KM network and 16 stations

According to Amanat Baghdad, when the final designs are completed, it will open the bidding process to international companies to submit their offers to complete to construct the system with funding provided by either the companies or through direct government funding.

The estimated cost to construct the system is $3 billion. Construction is expected to last between three and four years.

Nasiriyah Dream Homes

Department of housing of Dhi Qar (ALNASIRYAH ) placed a new strategy to face the housing crisis in 2012 .

From AlNASIRIYAH newspaper the director of the Department of housing in Dhi Qar if we take into account the annual increase to the need for housing in the whole of Iraq which amount to 8500 housing units must be plans in place for quick and effective reduction of this increase and need to live in Iraq/Dhi Qar in particular and these strategic plans which encircle and solve the housing crisis is for the local government to adopt an integrated project for social housing and distribution of ordinary citizens with limited income.

Newly Thi Qar (ALNASIRIYAH) investment commission has approved an investment License for a 60 Million US dollar .

Nasiriyah Dream Homes City house style

The housing project called (ALNASIRIYAH dream homes)  which going to be construct by US firm (Iraq Dream homes LLC) the first phase consists of 400 unites of single family house  .

The government allocate 250 acres for this project and set a condition to start the project within six months after signing the contract with Iraq Dream homes LLC to accelerate the completion of project.

Baghdad Basra fast Railway

The new Train between Baghdad – Basra

Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation start working on a big project of a fast railway connection between Baghdad and Basra going to be the fastest train in Iraq.

The new railway line will be 404 miles between Baghdad and Basra also going to link many strategic cities in Iraq like ALNAJAF, KARBLA  and ALNASRYIA  .

Central Railway Station Baghdad

The old train takes almost 12 hours between Baghdad and Basra and  the new train will take 3 hours.

the railway will travel at 250Km/h will help facilitate the transport of goods between Baghdad and Basra . The project will take 12 months starting from this year .

The local government in Basra willing  to start a big project in the beginning of  next year to rebuild  the railway  between Basra and Turkey and  Europe .

The ministry announced it has started importing  14 trains from Turkey each train worth 1 million dollar just to support the current Iraqi Fleet Railway .