GE today announced the opening of three new offices in Iraq - Baghdad, Basra and Erbil - further exemplifying the company’s 40 year history and commitment to the country.

This will drive the company’s long-term operations led by a focus on localisation, knowledge transfer and partnerships with public and private sector leaders across all key growth industries, it said.

Today’s event was held in partnership with the National Investment Commission (NIC) and under the patronage of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr Saleh Al-Mutlaq.

Over the past years, GE has played a pivotal role in supporting the country’s infrastructure needs by providing advanced technologies and solutions. Today, GE’s on-the-ground presence will allow the company to be a true partner in realising Iraq’s socio-economic development goals, it said.

Currently, GE is delivering power generation technology, which when installed, is capable of generating over nine gigawatts of electricity to the country. GE is also providing modern diagnostic technologies to a number of hospitals.

GE’s engines power a significant fleet of Iraqi Airways, while its energy solutions drive the efficiencies of oilfields. The company is also promoting the skills of its Iraqi workforce by providing extensive training programs and through knowledge sharing initiatives.

To mark the opening of the Baghdad office, GE and NIC hosted a panel discussion on ‘Public Private Partnerships Paving the Way for Sustainable Growth.’ Salar Amin, vice chairman, Iraqi National Investment Commission; Ziad Bader, Iraq country manager International Finance Corporation; Anwar Buni, director general - sector planning division for Ministry of Planning; Simona Marinescu, UNDP; and John Rice, GE’s vice chairman and president and CEO of GE’s global growth and operations, participated in the discussion attended by dignitaries, government officials and GE representatives.

The government and industry leaders discussed the growth potential of Iraq, the key drivers that will sustain the country’s economic and social development, the challenges in sustaining the growth momentum, the investment climate of the country and the significant contribution that the private sector can play in sectors as varied as energy, oil & gas, power, water, aviation, transportation, finance and healthcare.

John Rice, GE’s vice chairman, said: “GE is committed to partnering with Iraq in meeting and driving its developmental goals. The opening of three new offices in the country, where we have a history of over 40 years of operation, complements the Iraqi government’s strategic development plan to make a meaningful improvement in the lives of the Iraqis. In all our areas of operation – from energy to healthcare, oil & gas, healthcare and aviation – we have emphasised on bringing cutting edge technologies, the result of our sustained focus on innovation and R&D.

“We will support the country’s economic diversification and partner in infrastructure development through public and private partnerships. We believe that building skills and transferring our knowledge base are extremely important in building long-term partnerships.” - TradeArabia News Service