New port planned in Iraq

New port planned in Iraq    Iraq officials said an Italian firm will begin construction of a large new port in Al-Faw, on the Persian Gulf near the border of Iran.
   The Iraqi news agency quoted Transport Minister Amer Abdul-Jabbar Ismail as saying the Al-Faw port will be among the 12 biggest harbors throughout the world, with 100 quays and capacity to move 99 million tons per year. A ceremony to mark the start of the project was held Monday and work will reportedly begin in a month.
   A report from the French news agency AFP said the Italian engineering firm Technital will begin work on the port, which will be linked by rail to the Turkish border.
   The port quoted the minister as saying a goal was to create a “dry canal” to be used in north/south trade.
   The ministry Web site said the transport minister recently was part of a March delegation to New Orleans to discuss investment opportunities in Iraq ports such as Um-Qasser and Kour Al-Zubaeer as well as Faw.