baghdad will someday be jewel of the middle east

Thanks to American blood and treasure, and the leadership of President Bush Baghdad to be Middle East economic center within a few years http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=5035 Plan for 55 major projects and tunnels worth $400 million to convert Al-Rasheed Camp into global trade hub and sports center The government will soon open the way for international companies to in 55 large projects in the capital Baghdad, in an effort to develop the city of peace and make it an important economic and commercial center in the Middle East. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has recently allocated the sum of one billion 800 million dollars to the Baghdad secretariat and the ministries that contribute to the implementation of service projects in Baghdad for reconstruction during the next year. The Secretary of Baghdad, engineer Sabir Al-Isawi, revealed that the year 2008 will witness a leap in the quality of services and giant projects will be implemented spanning the next three years. According to his statement, "A strategic plan has been put [in place] to build important projects to improve services, and the map of the province will be changing through building 15 crossroads, bridges and tunnels costing $400 million, as was announced [currently] the invitation of 9 international companies to implement the project of Al Rusafa water, which will cost $ 3 billion next year,” noting that other water projects in other regions will also be built to complement the renewal and rehabilitation of water and sewage systems and prevent draining of sewage into the River Tigris. Al-Isawi continued that plans include building residential complexes, hotels and entertainment sites on the banks of the Tigris, plus large parks similar to Al-Zawra, and seek to involve the private sector. He pointed out that in coordination with Baghdad Council the secretariat will emphasize vertical housing complexes in the next year's plan. 90 billion dinars have been allocated to build the first complex of 4000 housing units, with the second set at 6000 units. Three sites have been nominated: Al-Baladiyat, Al-Sadr City and Al-Karkh, with the plan encouraging vertical building rather than horizontal expansion, for best use of free space in the city. The secretariat will involve the private sector in the Baghdad development plans of the capital in line with the investment law, and give sufficient guarantees for Iraqi or foreign capital used in building commercial centers, tourist places, multi-storey markets "Malls" and restaurants. Hinted at was the existence of a plan to convert the former camp of Al-Rasheed into a sports city, world trade center, or a housing complex, including about 55 projects in which the private sector could participate. Observers believe that the government's current plan is to boost the economy and standard of living by slashing unemployment with opportunities for unemployed youth. The Baghdad Secretary pointed out that security improvements had allowed the technical and engineering cadre of the secretariat to enter into many areas to improve services under a 6 month plan, particularly in the area of Haifa Street, now fully rehabilitated. He confirmed the allocation of one billion dinars to Al-Mansur and Al-Amriya, and three billion for Al-Adl, Ameriya and Al-Ghazaliya and improved services at Al-Adhamiya, Al-Dorah, and Al-Rasheed. Plans for these areas are to repair streets, water and sewage networks, and revive green areas. Al-Isawi confirmed that the meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last week resulted in a number of decisions, particularly that work would continue day and night.