Officials in Basra province in southern Iraq believe that the contracts concluded with Hill International, an American company that manages construction projects, will put their city — which suffers from corruption, a decline in services and worn out infrastructure — on the list of promising cities in the field of reconstruction.

Basra, which is Iraq's only port on the Persian Gulf, exports about 80% of Iraq's oil, and nearly 85% of the country's economy depends on the city's oil and port resources, according to Basra governor Majid al-Nasrawi.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Nasrawi confirmed that "The contracts signed with Hill will mean that construction projects in Basra — which are valued at $10 billion and include infrastructure, housing, rehabilitation and large investments — will be completed according to international standards. [These contracts] will save the city from the 'assault' carried out by corrupt state employees, who have not allowed any vital project to succeed in recent years."

According to officials in Basra, Hill will open its offices in the city during the next few weeks. Meanwhile, employment websites have published job postings with Hill for engineers and specialists to work in Basra.