Posted on 12/09/2008 4:38:10 PM PST by SandRat
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT — As security in the Salah ad Din province continues to improve and people return to their normal way of life, boosting the economy through more job opportunities is at the top of the to-do-list for cities in the region. And that means starting and growing businesses.
Joe Pinon, a member of the Salah ad Din Provincial Reconstruction Team, Lt. Col. David Hodne, battalion commander, 3rd Squadron 4th Calvary Regiment, along with key staff members of 3-4 CAV visited the Balad Canning Factory, Nov. 24, to assess the operational status and economic possibilities the factory has for the province.
In the past the factory was an economic powerhouse -- one of the three largest canneries in Iraq. It currently has four main product lines: juice, water, potato and corn chips and Kuppa, a traditional Iraqi dish. A tomato paste line slated to open in the late spring of 2009, coupled with local tomato farmers providing the produce can become an even greater source of employment for the local populace, according to Hodne.
Seen through the eyes of Ahmed Ibrahim Aghab, the owner of the factory, the facility, which currently has 195 employees, has the potential to increase production and job opportunities with proper financial backing.
“Once all six boilers are in place, I will be able to open my dairy product line within two weeks, creating a total of between 60 and 70 additional jobs at the factory,” said Aghab.
With INMA, the agricultural capacity development program, providing a contract of $4.915M for seven generators powering the factory and a 20 percent down payment for six boilers, the facility will receive the aid it needs to be effective, according to Hodne.
My Son-in-Law has been a civilian contractor at Camp Speicher for the past 3 years- this is good news!
Happy to oblige.
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