Together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Federal Foreign Office is promoting the development of local economic structures in the northern Iraqi region Ninewa. The German UN Ambassador in Vienna, Rüdiger Lüdeking, and UNIDO Director-General Kandeh Yumkella signed a financing agreement to this end in Vienna today (14 October).

The largest project between Germany and UNIDO in many years, with a budget of 3.6 million euro, assists selected local authorities in one of the country’s poorest regions in boosting economic development. This is intended to improve the quality of life for some 2000 households in need. In particular young people, women and internally displaced persons are to be integrated into the labour market by teaching them relevant skills in the manufacturing, agricultural and service spheres.

The project thus fits into the German Government’s many efforts to help bring stability to Iraq through appropriate cooperation activities. The Federal Government has assisted Iraq to the tune of 350 million euro since 2003 and has cancelled debts amounting to 4.8 billion euro.

This money is being used to fund numerous projects in the fields of institution-building, further training and human rights. The independent website “Wirtschafts-Plattform Irak” (Economic Platform Iraq) www.wp-irak.de provides information for German companies about economic and social developments in Iraq as well as up-to-date information about opportunities to become involved.