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By Madeleine White, former teacher and educational writer and Head of Marketing, Whizz Education.

This month’s announcement of closer collaboration between Europe and Iraq, coupled with last month’s WISE 2012 summit in Qatar, provides a great starting point for exploring the role of the Middle East in driving global collaboration and knowledge-share in Education.

It is clear that oil wealth, coupled with the desire to build a knowledge economy, offers a powerful incentive for recycling natural resources into knowledge. For example, the Educate A Child project was launched at WISE as a global initiative, aiming to make high-quality education accessible to all.  Might Kurdistan’s difficult history provide equally fertile ground for facilitating a global paradigm shift in education? The enforced isolation of a generation might indeed help leapfrog ‘received wisdom’ in order to serve immediate regional needs.

Leading the Way...

• Plans for major engineering and infrastructure projects (i.e. around Water and Agriculture) have highlighted a significant skills gap. Kurdistan is therefore matching the outputs of the education and training system by 15% per annum to meet the needs of the labour market. This kind of initiative can be used as a model to be shared with other countries.

• There is a genuine desire for support and promotion of education in the international community in order to further develop social equity and economic opportunities.  With the help of the Dubai Financial Market for example, Kurdistan will be launching Iraq’s second stock market in the next six months.

... with a little help from some friends

• Development Banks see themselves as knowledge banks as well as funding sources. They are able to use a vast amount of expertise, research and ideas to apply the strategies that they consider to be of the greatest use. This is relevant because EU support, for example, is channeled via the World Bank. World Bank projects that have contributed to Iraq’s reconstruction efforts include the construction of 66 new schools, the rehabilitation of 133 schools and the financing of more than 82 million textbooks.

• NGO involvement is also important. Last August saw UNICEF sending a delegation to meet with the Kurdish region Minister of Education in order to discuss the development of schools in the region. With goals of an  80% literacy rate within 5 years laid out and confirmed by the Regional Government, there is certainly a challenge to be met. Leveraging international expertise will therefore be of great value.

Between August 2006 to February 2012, an estimated $426 million, US dollars, capital private investment has been made in the Education sector in Kurdistan. One thing is clear, it is not easy turning oil and gas profits into knowledge  – but Iraqi Kurdistan does seem to be committed to making his happen.

Madeleine White is Head of Marketing for Whizz Education.  A former teacher and mother of 3 she is passionate about education, communication and CSR and has written extensively around her experiences.

Since starting in 2004, Whizz Education’s mission has been to raise standards in Maths. Maths-Whizz is used by thousands of 5-13 year olds in 8 countries, with major growth coming from the USA, the Middle East and Russia. By mid-2013, Maths-Whizz is expected to have launched and rolled out into 10 markets. To support this model of sustained, positive growth, Maths-Whizz is supported by Whizz Education offices in London, Seattle and Dubai. Additional support is provided through authorised international partners.Whizz Education is looking forward to other international market entries in 2013 and always welcomes strong partner approaches to support further international expansion.

By John Lee.

The Iraq Stock Exchange says that Iraqi telecom operator Asiacell will start publicly trading its shares as of 3rd February.

Associated Press also report that it will be the first stock float since the reign of Saddam Hussein.

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 25 percent of the company's shares will take place from 3rd January to 2nd February, and that the share price must be determined by 25th December.

Asiacell is an affiliate to Qatar Telecommunications.

(Source: Associated Press)

By John Lee.

OptaSense, which is owned by QinetiQ, has secured a key pipeline security contract in Iraq. The contract is to help provide protection to a new 180km pipeline corridor, owned and run by the State Company for Oil Project Iraq (SCOP).

OptaSense will be providing the technology to allow vital operational and security data to help operate, protect and secure the pipeline along both sides of a 60 meters wide pipeline corridor. When complete the pipeline corridor will be protected by over 20,000 virtual microphones making it one of the most monitored assets in the region.

This means any activity in and around the pipeline corridor will be ‘heard’ whether these be footsteps, digging or vehicles. The OptaSense acoustic alert data will be used to inform and guide the correct response to maintain pipeline integrity.

The project, due to be completed in March 2013, will complement work already taking place in Oman, Qatar and elsewhere in Iraq. The project will be managed from OptaSense regional HQ in Dubai.

Magnus McEwen-King, MD for OptaSense said:

"This contract is a significant step for OptaSense in the Middle East and builds on our investment in a regional HQ in Dubai. OptaSense will, for the first time, be providing a secure corridor, between which multiple pipelines will be built.

"We already have a proven track record of providing pipeline security elsewhere in the Middle East and around the world, and we are pleased to be undertaking another major project in the region. This cutting edge technology will provide a cost-effective means of protecting vital Iraqi infrastructure.

"We are rapidly establishing ourselves in the Middle East, and working in Iraq is important for OptaSense and shows the growing economic confidence in the country as a whole."

(Source: OptaSence)

WesternZagros Resources has announced the promotion of Michael Mossman to Senior Vice President Engineering and Operations.

Simon Hatfield, WesternZagros's Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"Michael's wealth of operational and management experience makes him an ideal person to lead our Kurdistan operations. His promotion strengthens our organization and I am sure he will continue to contribute to our future growth."

Michael Mossman joined WesternZagros as Vice President Operations in June 2012 to lead the Company's planning, evaluation and execution of its joint venture drilling programs. He will now also assume the broader responsibilities for the engineering group.

Mr. Mossman's extensive experience encompasses senior operational, technology development and executive management roles across exploration and development projects, having spent 35 years with BP on numerous prolific and challenging international projects.

His most recent position with BP was VP Operations and Country Manager for BP Algeria. His career with BP started in the North Sea and was followed by positions in Qatar, UK, Colombia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Algeria. Mr. Mossman holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol University and a Masters of Science (Distinction) in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College.

Michael Mossman stated:

"It is a very exciting time to be part of the great team at WesternZagros. We have an active program ahead of us as we face the challenge of delivering the aggressive exploration and appraisal plan of the next two years."

(Source: WesternZagros)

By John Lee.

Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes is planning to expand into Turkey, Iraq and Libya, according to a report from Reuters.

The company also plans to grow its asset management arm by 50 percent after the completion of its joint venture with Qatar's QInvest.

QInvest will hold 60 per cent and EFG's holding company will own 40 per cent of the venture, which will be branded EFG Hermes.

Kashif Siddiqui, managing director and head of asset management at EFG Hermes, who will be co-CEO of the joint venture, said the JV aims to increase its assets under management from $3.4 billion now to about $5 billion within a couple of years.

The deal will create the biggest investment bank across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and also pull in brokerage and asset management operations.

QInvest will inject $250 million into the venture.

(Source: Reuters)

By John Lee.

Lucky Cement, which claims to be the largest manufacturer of cement in Pakistan, has entered into a joint venture for a cement grinding plant in Iraq, according the The News.

"The contract for the supply of plant and machinery for this project has been signed and the project team, as well as civil contractors, have been mobilised at the project site," the company told the Karachi Stock Exchange.

The company may also export cement to nearby countries such as Qatar and other GCC countries.

(Source: The News)

(Picture: Lucky Cement plant in Pakistan)

By John Lee.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) has announced that it has taken control of Iraq's Al-Mansour Investment Bank.

It acquired an additional 27.7 percent shareholding for a cash payment of QR425.4 million, bringing its interest in the bank to 50.8 percent.

The company said that goodwill of QR117.6 million has been determined on acquisition of this additional stake on a provisional basis.

Dubai's DAMAC Properties has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi Minister for Construction and Housing on the final day of Cityscape Global 2012.

The region’s largest private luxury developer already has two plots of land in Baghdad that was previously bought from the private sector and is currently developing designs with the projects to be announced shortly.

The agreement will see DAMAC Properties provide expertise and insight for a number of residential and commercial projects in Baghdad and the surrounding region. The MoU is the result of many months of negotiations, culminating in high-level talks, which were concluded during the exhibition.

DAMAC Properties has also opened a branch office in Baghdad, further enforcing its commitment to developing in the country.

Mohammad Al Darraji, Iraqi Minister of Construction and Housing, met with DAMAC Properties Chairman Hussain Sajwani at the DAMAC Properties stand at Cityscape Global and signed an agreement which will allow DAMAC Properties to further expand its operations in Iraq.

Speaking earlier to delegates at the Cityscape conference, Mr. Al Darraji said:

“Iraq has seen significant changes to regulations and the governing of economic activities. The new laws promote fresh investment and this transition will promote the rapid restructuring of our economy.”

Mr. Sajwani added:

“DAMAC Properties is delighted to be invited to work with the Iraqi government on these forthcoming projects. This is a significant agreement which will allow us to take the DAMAC Properties commitment of luxury and quality to a new territory.”

DAMAC Properties currently has 65 buildings currently at various stages of construction in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The company has already completed 37 buildings throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with the latest project, Marina Bay in Abu Dhabi receiving its handover certificate only last month.

“DAMAC Properties is continually looking for the right opportunities to bring the luxury living brand to other parts of the world,” said Mr. Sajwani. “We are doing due diligence on a number of projects in different countries and if we believe the circumstances are right and our brand can add value to a particular country, we will seriously consider it, as we aim to become one of the leading luxury developers not just in the Middle East but the world.”

The Iraqi government has been showcasing various projects during Cityscape Global 2012 and discussing a number of private-public partnerships with potential investors. During a speech to the conference Al Darraji said that US$ 10.4 billion worth of construction and infrastructure projects are expected to be approved next year and that the ministry has 65 projects worth US$ 3 billion with 60,000 units already under construction.

(Source: DAMAC)

By John Lee.

Doha-based Qatar Airways is to operate four flights a week to Najaf, according to Arabian Aerospace.

The company will use an Airbus A320 with 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy.

Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said:

“Iraq is proving to be an important market for Qatar Airways; we currently operate four flights a week between Doha and the cities of Baghdad and Erbil. We are confident that Najaf will prove to be a popular destination for our passengers, especially those from the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific and those returning to visit their homeland.

“With major infrastructure developments and vast untapped tourist potential, we are very excited about our launch of flights to Najaf.

“Qatar Airways constantly looks at new market opportunities and the launch of flights to Najaf will enable us to quickly meet the growing demand for travel to this increasingly popular destination. The start of our services to three cities in Iraq within a short span of time emphasises the value and importance of tourism, trade and business links between Qatar and Iraq."

(Source: Arabian Aerospace)

By John Lee.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley is no longer a bookrunner for the IPO (initial public offering) of Asiacell, the Iraqi telecom operator majority-owned by Qatar Telecom (QTEL).

A person with knowledge of the discussions told the news agency that, while Morgan Stanley is still an adviser on the deal, the company will not manage Asiacell’s share sale because it does not have a client base inside Iraq, where most of the demand for this IPO is expected.

The sale of a 25 percent stake in Asiacell could raise as much as $1 billion, making it the biggest ever in the country, and doubling the market capitalization of the Iraq Stock Exchange.

Rabee Securities, a Baghdad-based brokerage, is also managing Asiacell’s IPO.

A London-based official at Morgan Stanley declined to comment, as did a Qtel spokesman.

(Source: Bloomberg)