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WASHINGTON D.C. (May 7, 2008) - Citizens of Basra, the
third-largest city in Iraq, celebrated the opening yesterday of a
central market that demonstrated a return of peace and prosperity
to an area that until recently was a stronghold of Shiia
militias.
Schools closed early as families from the Jameat district
gathered with local dignitaries, investors and media to watch the
ceremonial opening of the Jameat Market, Multinational Corps Iraq
officials reported.
"I am pleased to open the Jameat Market, which is an excellent
example of the many projects contributing to the rebuilding of
Iraq," Nigel Haywood, the British consular general in southern
Iraq, said. "This project will help establish prosperity in
Basra."
The market was built on the site where the Jameat police station
was destroyed Dec. 25, 2006. The construction of the market was
paid for by coalition reconstruction funds, in conjunction with the
provincial council. Local Iraqis built the market, which was
completed on March 23 at a total cost of about $1 million,
officials said.
Operation Charge of the Knights, a citizens group that works to
restore peace and security to Basra, was credited with opening the
market.
The market is expected to open for business within 30 days, and
vendors already have rented many stalls, officials said.
Traditionally, markets are a community focal point in Iraqi
culture, and officials are considering proposals for similar
markets in other areas of Basra.
In other signs of progress in the area, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers yesterday completed renovations on a vocational technical
center in the Zubair district of Basra province, coalition
officials said. The $1.5 million project restored two facilities
that included at least 24 workshops for vocational training.
"Providing better educational opportunities will lead to better
job opportunities," Army Lt. Col. Maura Gillen, a Multinational
Force Iraq spokeswoman, said. "Vocational training is an investment
in the economy, an investment in the development of a secure and
prosperous Iraq."
Also yesterday, economic progress was seen in Baghdad when
coalition forces awarded a small-business grant to boost fish farms
in the area.
Sheikh Jaffar of Khidr accepted the grant on behalf of a local
fish farm association to buy two aerators for facilities in the
Iskandariyah area, about 30 miles south of Baghdad. The aerators
will be used in a holding pond, where 3 million young fish, or
fingerlings, are scheduled for delivery later this month, officials
said. Aerators provide oxygen to the pond to increase the
survivability rate of the fingerlings, they explained.
Provincial reconstruction team representatives say it's
important for economic stimulus projects to be driven by
Iraqis.
"It's important to help the Iraqis stimulate their own economy
so they can have financial resources available to develop their own
ideas and what they view as their own economic needs in their
region," said Army Maj. William Kerr of the 415th Civil Affairs
unit attached to the 3rd Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat
Team.
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