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Kurdistan region leads the way in Iraq's
aviation sector
31.3.2007 |
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March 31, 2007
LONDON, March 30 ,-- The Kurdistan Region’s
new international airports were showcased as the
leading examples in Iraq during an aviation and
security conference held in London this week.
International delegates met with Iraqi and Kurdistan
Regional Government officials, airport directors and
airline operators to discuss the continued
development of Iraq’s airports which are critical to
international support, access and investment.
Since the fall of Saddam’s regime the Kurdistan
Region has successfully opened its doors, or rather
its brand new airports, to the world. Speaker
Abdullah Al Berwari, Vice-Minister and Adviser to
the Prime Minister, Kurdistan Regional Government,
said: “Direct Access to the Kurdistan Region has
improved vastly over the past three years and there
are even grander plans to make our aviation
facilities a model for the whole region.
Erbil International Airport already buzzes with
substantial numbers of international business
travellers who are successfully taking advantage of
the many trade and investment opportunities.”
Speaker Taher Hawrami, Director, Erbil International
Airport (EIA), said: “There is a great deal of
serious interest from international companies, large
and small, to be part of the exciting developments
at Erbil International Airport and the whole of the
aviation sector in Kurdistan. This is testament that
Kurdistan is peaceful, prospering and already open
for business”.
In 2006, EIA handled 143,430 international
passengers, 25,600 domestic passengers, 11,000 tones
of cargo and six cargo carriers. Ten airlines
currently operate at EIA servicing 14 destinations
worldwide. As a result of demand, this month
Austrian Airlines is increasing their Vienna to
Erbil schedule from two to three flights per week.
A new terminal, runway and aprons are being
constructed at EIA with an initial investment of USD
250 million. Work is expected to be completed at the
end of 2007 and the terminal fully operational in
early 2008. The 16 gate terminal will have the
capacity to process 2.75 million passengers a year,
providing a substantial footfall for the 5,000 sqm
duty free shopping zone. Future plans include an
aviation academy, cargo village and an international
exhibition hall.
Erbil and Sulaimaniyah are not simply leading the
way in aviation but also in regard to visitor
facilities in the cities themselves, including
hotels, transport, restaurants, parks, shopping
malls and business services. This growth has been
accelerated by a substantial increase in foreign
direct investment, due in part to the new and
extremely liberal foreign investment law. |
EIA- Erbil International Airport
Erbil Airport Tower |
After highlighting the key articles of the new
investment law, speaker Dr Zeki Fattah, Senior
Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of the
Kurdistan Regional Government, said: “The aviation
industry is the most important vehicle for the free
flow of people and goods in a landlocked country.
The growth potential of the Kurdistan Region’s
economy is great and we are actively seeking foreign
direct investment not just of capital but also in
technology, management and organisation”. Dr Fattah
concluded by saying: “International companies, not
only in the aviation sector, should think about
investing now otherwise they will be in danger of
missing the boat.”
You can download the presentations in MS Power
point file from KDC websites:
Taher Hawrami, Director, Erbil International Airport
- 8 MB
Abdullah Al Berwari, Vice-Minister and Adviser to
the Prime Minister, Kurdistan Regional Government -
Size 24 MB
Dr Zeki Fattah, Senior Economic Adviser to the Prime
Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government - Size
0.2 MB
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