Posted on 11/28/2008 6:29:01 AM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi ARAM Media Print Facility and the Brothers Fuel Station opened in the Iraqi Business Industrial Zone at Victory Base Complex, Nov. 24.
These two businesses are the result of Iraqi business men and women who have a desire to develop the Iraqi economic infrastructure.
“The whole purpose of the Iraqi Business Industrial Zone is to help improve the industrial base and improve local communities,” said Rear Adm. Kathleen Dussault, commander, Joint Contracting Command. “Military bases create a lot of great jobs. It is a perfect opportunity to pair up local business and the bases to help fuel the local economy.”
The Print Facility, built by ARAM Media, was funded by a female business owner who spent $1,500,000 of her own money on the construction of her warehouse which now houses a Web Press Goss Urbanite II machine. The machine is able to produce 50,000 newspapers per hour, and can print two different newspapers at the same time.
ARAM Media is a woman owned Iraqi business that was established in 2006, but the owner has been working with Coalition forces since 2004. The company produces media products for Coalition forces such as newspapers, billboards, TV and radio products and advertisements. It also performs polling and news gathering tasks.
“She [the Iraqi businesswoman] has done tremendous work,” said Dussault. “She has had multiple contracts with us in the past. We look forward to even more business [with her] in the future. The fact that she would invest her own personal assets to reach out to Coalition forces to provide more business opportunities is commendable.”
When ARAM Media is at full production, it will employ approximately 20 full time employees on site and 50 across Iraq.
The Brothers Fuel Station was built by Aws and Ammar Orfali, of SIGMA Group International. The SIGMA Group International spent $1,400,000 to construct the fuel station. The local economy will have a gross influx of approximately $368,400 per year based on estimated local expenditures, local purchases and salaries paid out, according to SIGMA Group International.
All the revenues will be kept in Iraq to help build the Iraqi economic infrastructure and develop additional fuel stations at other forward operating bases, according to SIG¬MA Group International.
The continuing development of Iraqi businesses shows the Iraqi people’s desire to build a new Iraq with a strong economy and a secure, peaceful environment.
“What this symbolizes to me is the new Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. Nicolas Matern, deputy commanding general for Coalition forces and infrastructure, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “An Iraq where Iraqis have the opportunity to invest in their own country. More so as the security situation improves.”
Construction was completed by a local company which employed 50 to 60 workers. All construction is done according to U.S. and European standards and all the equipment is new. Thirty Iraqi workers were hired to conduct daily operations at the fuel station.
“With things getting better because of the U.S. and Coalition forces, people come here looking for a job,” said Ammar Orfali, owner of SIMGA Group and the Brothers Fuel Station. “When you have someone who works for you, you are feeding his children. This is something amazing.”
The ARAM Media Print Facility is located by the fuel point just outside of Camp Slayer. The Brothers Fuel Station is located centrally within the Victory Base Complex, near the IBIZ car wash.
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