Kurfan Group, a leading construction contractor in Iraq, and top investment firm Northern Gulf Partners will transform a former US military facility known as Cam Bucca in Basra into a state-of-the-art business and logistics centre.

Basra Logistics City is poised to become the preeminent business location in Iraq, a statement said.

Sitting on 300 hectares (740 acres) inside the perimeter of Camp Bucca, the development lies two kilometres from Iraq's primary port of Umm Qasr, 20 km from the main border crossing at Safwan, and 40 km south of downtown Basra.

Seven of Iraq's nine supergiant oil fields lie within 150 km of the Basra Logistics City, making it an excellent staging ground for oilfield supplies, the statement added.

Surrounded by a 15-ft berm and dozens of guard towers, the site benefits from approximately $100 million worth of existing infrastructure including warehouses, roads, advanced water treatment and sewer systems, electricity, a recreational facility, a helicopter landing pad, 1,000 modern and well maintained housing units.

'As an Iraqi company, we are very pleased to see this project go forward because of the benefits it will bring in terms of jobs and economic development in Iraq,” said Maythem al-Asad, Kurfan Group founder and CEO.

“We are working closely with the Basra government as well as the town of Umm Qasr to ensure that this project is a success for all involved.'

Bartle Bull of Northern Gulf Partners said: 'This is an extremely important project for Iraq and for companies seeking to do business here. Basra Logistics City offers a secure, convenient, and hassle-free way for companies to set up and get to work in the booming Iraq market.”

“With a host of amenities and easy access, the Basra Logistics City allows companies to focus on their core business and the immense opportunities here in Iraq. The local government here in Basra truly has a vision for the region's development, and their decision to go ahead with the Basra Logistics City is a testament to their commitment to development in Basra and in Iraq,’ he added.

The project bridges several critical gaps in the Iraqi economy. With Iraq's main port of Umm Qasr already struggling to manage the volume of commercial cargo entering the country, Basra Logistics City provides urgently needed support for Iraq's intermodal commerce, improving logistics and lowering the cost of doing business.

The project also provides critical facilities for operations, HSE and other training, and storage, which are virtually non-existent in Basra but are badly needed by oil and oil services companies working in conjunction with Iraq's $150 billion oil development program.

With the handover, NGP/Kufan will open the existing facilities to logistics and storage customers, and will also commence the $245 million first phase of development, which will include additional retail and commercial office and storage space. – TradeArabia News Service