Minister for Construction: "We Need International Companies"

“Iraq has been too dependent of the public sector for too long and we need commitment and action to release state assets into the private sector. The Ministry of Construction is at the front of the queue with a road-map and with one deal to be completed later this year”, said Minister Darraji.

Of the nine companies owned by the Ministry, two are road builders, one builds bridges, one is involved in up-stream oil industry construction, one provides municipal water supplies, two are property developers and two build houses, schools and hospitals, all of which are in massive demand.

The Iraqi Government have made it plain that they are not looking for cash: “We have plenty of cash, what we want if international expertise and modern equipment.” The government would welcome approaches where an international partner contributes 49% of the State Company value in expertise and equipment, with the government agreeing a three-to-seven year buy-out to “give both parties what they want”.

Minister Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji (pictured) was born in 1971, and studied civil engineering in Baghdad and London. Prior to being appointed Minister for Housing and Construction at the end of 2010, he worked on engineering projects in the United Kingdom, Libya, and Qatar.