Iraq eyes six billion dollar Baghdad masterplan

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq on Tuesday announced it was seeking six billion dollars in investment over the next three years to fund a masterplan to revitalise conflict-torn Baghdad with new hotels, restaurants and highways.

"Three billion dollars are needed over three years for infrastructure and the equivalent amount for investment projects," said Tahsin al-Sheikhli, spokesman for the civilian wing of Baghdad's security plan.

"A year ago, we were not able to talk about such projects as we were worried about security issues. We have succeeded in that area and now we will succeed in construction," he said.

Sheikhli urged foreign companies to come forward and invest in Baghdad, saying that the Iraqi government did not have the means to cover the costs on its own.

Baghdad suffered considerable damage in the US-led invasion of 2003 and the violence that followed. It also endured the effects of the UN sanctions regime imposed under executed president Saddam Hussein.

Sheikhli unveiled plans to build several towers on Haifa Street, one of the main arteries of the capital and in other sectors of the Iraqi capital.

He said that luxury hotels would be built in the Shiite shrine quarter of Kadhamiyah as well as restaurants and commercial centres in the heart of Baghdad.

The plan also envisages the construction of new roads and bridges to relieve the city of the traffic jams that are now a feature of daily life. There are also proposals to rebuild the famous Abu Nawas highway along the river Tigris.
AFP

What are those? Bronze age construction techniques?