Iraq: Italian support for bussiness district in Nasiriya

AKI ^ | 2006 Jan 20

[Wiz]

Rome, 20 Jan. (AKI) - Italian and Iraqi officials will on Sunday inaugurate a new business centre in the southern Iraqi city of Nasirya where Italy's military contingent in Iraq is currently deployed. The Bab Tahir International District includes an "industrial hotel' which aims to provide a venue where Italian and Iraqi business people can display their products and discuss investment and trade opportunities. Sunday's inauguration will be held under the auspices of the Italian Foreign Ministry which has organised the visit by a delegation of industrialists from Italy to coincide with the centre's opening.

The event will also mark the signing of a memorandum of understanding by officials of two Italian state companies - Marco Castellett, CEO of SUDGEST, and Giancarlo Lanna, president of SIMEST (a company which provides support to Italian private companies which invest abroad) - which will manage the business district. Sudgest which is already active in several local development projects in the Iraqi province of Dhi Qar, will also be responsible for training activities at the centre.

[starfish923]

Oh good, the Iraqis can use some fabulous Italian cuisine....and some duds with more style than an abaya and a raghead. :o)

[Patriot from Philly]

The Italians have proved to be disappointing allies. I think Americans need to be careful not to have coalition members whose people are so against the war.

Spain and Italy were more trouble than they were worth.

I think Italy's will need a few new magistrates to try all the Americans they are charging, including Lance Armstrong!!!

[eyespysomething]

SIMEST (a company which provides support to Italian private companies which invest abroad)

The Italian Halliburton? (-8

[bert]

.....Spain and Italy were more trouble than they were worth.
.....

What in this article would cause you to say that?

The effort noted seems to be a legitimate commercial venture promoting Italian businesses to Iraqis. How is that a bad thing?

[Mind-numbed Robot]

...try all the Americans they are charging, including Lance Armstrong!!!

Well, Lance Armstrong dumped a good and faithful wife and kids for Cheryll Crow. He should be tried. :-)

[Patriot from Philly]

Maybe the fact that Spain bailed out on the coalition and that Italy is rumored to have paid millions of dollars in ransom to terrorists in Iraq for release of its hostages.

Paul Bremer, in his latest book, says that Spanish soldiers stood by and and did not come to the aid of American soldiers under fire in Southern Iraq.

And both countries are prosecuting American soldiers, cleared in military investigations, for murder in what were clearly friendly fire incidents.

Other than that, they are good allies.