Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080915-08
Sept. 15, 2008

Q-West leaders promote Iraqi economic opportunity, self-reliance
Multi-National Corps – Iraq

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq – Coalition forces are working to help Iraqi entrepreneurs learn the skills needed to earn the money to remain successful after Coalition forces leave.

The Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone initiative is currently helping 14 Iraqi owned businesses, six industrial and eight retail, operating on Q-West.

The businesses were awarded land-use agreements to operate on the contingency operating base, and sell goods and services to Soldiers, contractors, local nationals and foreign nationals. Some are also awarded a contract.

As of Sept. 1, the COB had paid out $7.9 million in contracts for the fiscal year, with a monthly impact of $274,433 going back into Ninawa province, according to the badging office at Q-West, which tracks IBIZ contracts and impact.

“As the local population becomes more invested in the growth and prosperity of their local economy, they are less likely to join the local insurgency,” said Sgt. 1st Class Sean Shanahan, events and communication non-commissioned officer in charge, and IBIZ assistant coordinator, Mayor’s Cell.

Shanahan added that many of the more than 150 Iraqis that work on Q-West are also learning job skills, like heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair, vehicle and generator maintenance and welding, which will allow them to be successful after Coalition forces leave.

“The key is for these individuals to establish themselves and survive on the skills they learn,” Shanahan said.

Officials here are currently in the process of awarding a land-use agreement for an Iraqi-owned gas station to be built on Q-West, said Capt. Todd Howell, events and communication officer in charge, and IBIZ coordinator, Mayor’s Cell.

“Local nationals and foreign nationals will pay for the fuel they use,” Howell said. “And they will build it according to American standards. We don’t have to do that, but when we turn over this COB to Iraq, we will be responsible for the environmental state of this site, so it’s not in our best interest to let anyone skim on standards.”

The base is also negotiating a cell phone tower and concrete batch plant, Howell said.

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