ECONOMY - July 6 2004
Due to the Romanian Foreign Minister, Mircea Geoana, visit in Baghdad the Iraqi authorities were offered a list of some important Romanian companies that are to participate to the Iraqi rehabilitation.
CATALIN BUDESCU
Guns and Ammunition
Before 1989, Romania was one of the top military technique and armament suppliers of the entire world. Since the Revolution in December 1989 it hasnât been the same due to the fact that the countries having a powerful military industry gradually took the place of Romania. The Iraqi war is a great opportunity for the Romanian companies in this domain to prove that our military products can represent an important percentage of the world market. So, Romtehnica and Confex International could cooperate with the Iraqi authorities in the guns, ammunition, and military uniforms supplies matter. On the official list, in the export sector, there are also Tehnoforest, Sarcomex, and Regix. We have to emphasize the fact that the proposed Romanian companies for the Iraqi rehabilitation have a vast experience in the economical projects development.
Significant Objectives
One of the major companies that develop projects in Iraq is Rompetrol. With a vast experience in the domain, that includes Iraq also, the Romanian company wants to get involved in the development of the oil area Subha-Luhais. The company is also interested in one of the Northern oil areas of Iraq, Hamrin. Due to the fact that the company had already made some drilling in the area, and that it already has the necessary tools in Iraq the company is targeting the Subha-Luhais, Rusmaillak, Saddam and Baj Hassan areas. Rompetrol has also shown its interest in the development of the projects concerning the works in the repairing and reconstructing of the oil transport pipelines as well as in the reestablishing of the oil wells in the area. For the time being Rompetrol has 4 installations for oil extractions in Iraq in the Tikrat and Baj Hassan regions.
33 Billions of U.S. Dollars
The total value of the Iraq reconstruction is about 33 billions of U.S. dollars. "All the countries that are in good relations with Iraq, like Romania, must be able to take part in this kind of projects", stated John Negroponte, the United States of America ambassador in Iraq. Iraq used to be a traditional partner for Romania before the events in the Golf took place. Besides that, between the years 1995 and 2003, the Romanian companies have signed over 45 contracts having a total value of almost 100 million U.S. dollars. This was a part of the international humanitarian programme "Oil for the Food".Translation: SORIN BALAN