New projects in the industrial, trade and development sectors in Iraq could be worth more than $1 billion, a top official said.

“We are also preparing the designs for an industrial zone,” the deputy chairman of the Al Diwaniyah Investment Commission, Hussein Al Yassiri was quoted as saying by Iraq Business News.

New projects likely to be announced shortly include those related to the $1.35-bilion Al-Diwaniyah International Commercial Airport.

Other projects include a $210-million cement plant, and five investment contracts worth around $250 million, the report said.