BAGHDAD, Iraq — The governemnt is planning to spend $1.5 billion (IQD 1,744.6bn) on water and sewer projects over the next two to three years, according to a Reuters report on ConstructionWeekOnline.com.
The Sept. 18 story quoted Municipalities and Public Works Minister Adil Mhoder, who stated, “We will ask companies to bid for them in 2014. By the end of 2013, these projects will have passed the planning phase and will be needing implementation.”
Mhoder also stated that the Iraqi government was facilitating the issuing of visas to businessmen as a way to encourage foreign contractors work on the projects.
The story stated that foreign contractors have been hesistant to work in Iraq due to "slow bureaucratic procedures and an unstable political and security environment."