Officials from Anbar reveal industrial investment size, direct a request to the Parliament.

BAGHDAD-INA

Officials in Anbar province revealed the volume of industrial investment in the province. They also sent a request to the Parliament regarding the mineral investment law because of its great importance in operating the stalled factories and increasing financial revenues.

 The head of the Anbar Investment Commission, Mahdi Al-Noman, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "There are large quantities of mineral wealth in Anbar Governorate, whether in the field of phosphate, sulfur or glass," noting that "the industrial sector in the province is successful and of great importance, especially with regard to  plants for the production of cement, phosphate and sand.

For his part, Adviser to Anbar Governor for Energy Affairs, Aziz Al-Tarmouz, explained to (INA),that he demanded the parliament to  approve the mineral investment law, which was prepared by the ministry in advance, so that companies can refer them to investment, such as sulfur, phosphate, and other vital facilities.

Al-Tarmuz called on "the Parliament to vote on the mineral investment law because of its great importance in operating the stalled factories and increasing financial revenues, as well as providing job opportunities for thousands of young people with different specializations."

An expert in the field of glass and refractories, Nazem Hamad Matar, says: "Mesopotamia has been blessed with many natural minerals and materials that are used in many industries. If they were used correctly, the country would be in the ranks of developed countries, whether in the extractive industries or manufacturing industries."

He also added: "Here, it requires the competent authorities to consider rehabilitating the Iraqi factories and returning them to its previous era to employ thousands of manpower again and exploit the existing expertise and achieve large revenues added to the oil revenues in the country, operating the region and increasing prosperity and trade exchange."

 He stressed, "the need to harness all capabilities to rehabilitate these factories because of their great economic importance and to stop the export of hard currency outside Iraq, instead of continuing to import and enrich the factories of neighboring countries."

 He explained, "The ideal solution is for the state to play the role of the investor to finance and revive these factories in a way that secures their operation by bringing in solid international companies, and thus we will have production plants comparable to the imported product."