| Economic Reconstruction Programs Boost Iraqi Payrolls, Businesses |
| Thursday, 17 July 2008 | |
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BAGHDAD — Two U.S.-military sponsored economic reconstruction programs are helping to put thousands of Iraqi citizens into productive jobs while boosting the country’s business activity, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said July 16. |
In March 2007, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, directed his officers to find ways to provide jobs and increased opportunities for economic expansion, entrepreneurship and skills training for the people of Iraq, recalled Army Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale, director of personnel, logistics and resources for Multinational Force Iraq.
The successful Iraqi First LOGCAP and Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone programs are direct results of Petraeus’ directive, McHale said.
“Both of these programs are focused on contributing to Iraq’s economic progress and security,” McHale pointed out.
The Iraqi First LOGCAP program provides a conduit for Iraqi businesses to sell their products and services to coalition customers, McHale explained.
“We are striving to put Iraqis first in purchase decisions,” McHale noted. LOGCAP, he said, is the name of the military logistics contracting and purchasing system.
LOGCAP is the coalition’s largest service contract in Iraq, and is a prime example and one of the programs in which Iraqi First is being applied, the two-star general said.
“We are working to direct more and more jobs supporting this contract to Iraqis,” McHale continued. “In addition, we are directing more purchases of products to Iraqi suppliers. The goal is to have Iraqi workers and Iraqi suppliers to be a significant part of our military logistics support.”
Today, about 3,700 Iraqi citizens are holding jobs as part of the Iraqi First-LOGCAP program, McHale said. At some installations, he noted, Iraqi citizens make up more than 50 percent of the work force.
“We are working every day to open up more jobs on more bases to Iraqi citizens, and we expect to add thousands of jobs over the next several months,” McHale said, noting Iraqis are working in skilled positions such as construction, carpentry, masonry, welding, plumbing, electrical work, well-drilling as well as many types of general-labor positions.
“Iraqis also have a growing presence in both professional and administrative positions,” McHale said. A new initiative, he noted, is exploring ways to hire Iraqis through Iraqi-government-sponsored vocational-technical schools.
The Iraqi First-LOGCAP program is also about buying Iraqi products for use on coalition bases, McHale said, noting the U.S. military in Iraq has bought more than $182 million worth of Iraqi products and services over the past year.
“While these products were available elsewhere, we chose to buy Iraqi goods and services,” McHale said. Buying Iraqi-made products creates new jobs for the people of Iraq, he observed.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone program, called IBIZ, continues to help Iraqi entrepreneurs to do business with the U.S. military, McHale said.
“IBIZ is a program that provides secure locations on or next to coalition-force bases for privately owned, small and medium sized Iraqi businesses employing Iraqi workers,” McHale explained. The program, he said, injects money into the Iraqi economy while boosting social stability by providing jobs to Iraqis so that they can support their families.
IBIZ-affiliated ventures employ more than 1,400 Iraqis with annual salaries totaling more than $10 million, McHale reported. Successful businesses that participate in the IBIZ program include building trades, vehicle-repair, retail shops, cement and asphalt, metal cutting, trucking and generator repair.
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The IBIZ program is growing, McHale said, noting it is now being implemented on 11 coalition bases, with plans to expand it to 14 bases this summer.
Feature Stories
| National Historic Site Hit by Insurgent’s Indirect Fire |
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COB ADDER — Insurgent mortar fire struck the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a national historic site, twice July 14. The 4,000 year-old historical site was considered a dwelling place for the gods in ancient Mesopotamia. No structural damage has being reported at this time. |
| Improving Quality of Life in Dohuk |
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The projects, overseen by the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are constructed by Iraqi firms using funds from the Economic Support Fund. |
| Hundreds of New Officers Join Iraqi Army, Air Force |
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RUSTAMIYAH — Amid showers of candy and shouts from family and friends, more than 250 new lieutenants joined the Iraqi Army and Air Force after graduating from the Iraqi Military Academy here July 14. The same day as the graduation at Rustamiyah, more than 400 cadets graduated from the academies at Zhako, Nasiriyah and Qualachalon. “You are the future of Iraq,” Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji said to the graduates. |
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• This edition features the transfer of aircraft from U.S. to Iraqi control for use by the Iraqi Air Force.
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• This edition features the generation of more power and reintegration programs in Iraq.Water Works
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | Ministry of Interior opens ID, weapons card facility |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | ISF detain two suspected Special Groups criminals in central Iraq |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | Baghdad bombing cell hit hard by Coalition operations |
Smoke Screen
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | 15 killed in Tal Afar VBIED attack |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | SoI members lead MND-N Soldiers to cache west of Samarra |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | Al-Quibla Power Substation improves power grid (Basra) |
Copy Cats
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | MND-B Soldiers seize cache in New Baghdad |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | MND-B Soldiers seize pistol cache in Rusafa |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | MND-B Soldiers detain known Special Groups leader (Baghdad) |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | MND-B Soldiers detain key suspect in New Baghdad |
Baby Face
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | Baghdad National ERU, IA capture five suspected Special Groups criminals in separate operations |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | Suicide bomber targets city council member in northern Baghdad |
| Wednesday, 16 July 2008 | USF-W Marine dies of wounds (al Anbar) |
Stumble It!
