The Hindu Business Line : India confirms $10 m to Iraq fund

INDIA has confirmed its pledge of $10 million to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), becoming the only developing country to meet the minimum threshold of multilateral assistance to the facility, at a meet here.

The pledge of $10 million will be equally divided between the World Bank and UN Trust Funds, which form part of this facility, said Mr R.M. Abhyankar, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement at the Donors Committee meeting.

Mr Abhyankar recalled India's contribution of $20 million to UN's Flash Appeal for Iraq in May 2003, and confirmed the fresh pledge to IRFFI. In doing so, the country has emphasised the historic, cultural and commercial contact that has existed for centuries between the people of Iraq and India, he said.

India also participated at the Donors Conference in Madrid in October 2003.

The meeting, attended by delegates from 40 countries, included representatives of donor countries and international agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Several countries are expected to pledge sums for reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Mr Abhyankar pointed out that in the immediate aftermath of the war in April 2003, India expressed its readiness to assist Iraq to meet both its humanitarian and reconstruction needs, particularly in the area of human resources development and training. The Indian company Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has completed rehabilitation of the Baiji power station on an emergency basis and others are involved in restoring power lines.

He also pointed out that 15 young Iraqi diplomats are receiving training at the Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi and more such training courses will follow.

Mr Abhyankar said that the Iraqi nominees are also expected to arrive in India in April for getting trained in IT courses.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry will also receive computers and other hardware in the next few weeks. In the oil sector, Iraqi engineers and technical personnel will visit India shortly for advance training in oil drilling and refining.