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Iraq to Simplify Visa Procedures For Foreign Oil Workers

The Iraqi government has announced that it will simplify entry-visa and residency-permit procedures for foreign oil workers, following complaints that the current lengthy process deters investors.
Workers attend a training class at LUKOIL training centre in the southern city of Basra December 25, 2012. Russian oil firm LUKOIL has opened its first training centre located in al-Rumaila in the southern city of Basra to develop skilled staff to work in its oilfield. The firm, Russia's second-largest crude producer, won a contract to develop the West Qurna-2 oilfield. Picture taken December 25, 2012.   REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY BUSINESS) - RTR3C2HM

An Iraqi government spokesman said that the Baghdad government has decided to grant foreign oil company workers in Iraq assistance in obtaining entry visas and residency permits, following many complaints of difficulties faced by employees and engineers in entering Iraq to work for oil companies.

Faisal Abdullah, the spokesman for energy affairs for Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, told Al-Monitor that Shahristani held a meeting with the general director of the Department of Nationality in the Ministry of Interior and the general director of the Contracts Department in the Oil Ministry. During the meeting, the parties discussed facilitating the process of obtaining visas and residency permits for workers employed by foreign oil and power companies in Iraq.

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