The Hindu Business Line : `Work as India Inc on Iraq projects'

INDIAN companies can get a chunk of the expected $400 billion to be spent on the reconstruction of Iraq but must guard against "internecine conflicts" aimed at under-cutting each other, a senior External Affairs Ministry official said today.

"Our companies have several distinct advantages that would enable them to play a significant role in the reconstruction of Iraq. But they should ensure that they do not end up in internecine conflicts and needlessly bring down the prices quoted for a project. They should adopt a consortium approach to ensure highest realisations for Indian companies," the External Affairs Secretary (ANA), Mr R M Abhyankar, said today at the annual conference of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The Indian companies were welcome in Iraq due to the traditional warmth between the people of the two countries, Mr Abhyankar said.

The typical requirement in the country was for infrastructure building that included transport systems such as roads, bridges, ports and airports, communication, power generation, transmission and distribution, construction of public buildings and petroleum industry, the official said.

Indian companies, even the large corporates should also accept the ground realities and be ready to act as sub-contractors for larger US companies that are likely to bag the big assignments, Mr Abhyankar said, adding, "That may be the only way to go forward in Iraq in the near term."

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