Industry looks to Iraq
Untapped potential gives industry new focus
A number of industry experts have been speaking about the emerging opportunities in the Iraqi construction market, naming booming trade in heavy machinery and building materials.
Arif Kalam, vice president of sales and marketing for French Cement, concrete, aggregates and plasterboard manufacturer, Lafarge said the re-building process in the war-torn country would put the potential on par with that of Saudi Arabia. Combined, he said the population density of the two nations would sustain opportunities in the longrun.
Commenting that Iraq’s construction market was “interesting” David Van Graan, vice president of Sales for MAN Trucks, said: “In terms of business it has given us fourfold what it has given us in previous years and we see many of the government projects are coming to fruition and those companies that stood the test over time will be there in the boom period that’s coming”
Speaking at a round table held in Dubai on September 16, Van Graan and Kalam were joined by Ahmed Azzam, project manager of ADC Construction, Steven Barritt, regional manager for Ritchie Brother and David Semple, vice president of sales for Manitowoc Cranes.
The discussion was held ahead of PMV, scheduled to take part during The Big 5 in Dubai November 21-24.
While Barritt added that a large proportion of Ritchie Brothers machines are sources for the African and Iraqi market, he also commented that a shortage of new machines will mean production must increase over the next five years.
November issue of The Big Project will look in detail at the existing and new opportunities in Iraq. To comment in the article contact melanie@cpidubai.com
