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Iraq’s Faw Port Project Faces Continued Setbacks

Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, planned to be one of the largest maritime ports in the gulf region, has been stalled due to political disputes.
Iraqi soldier stands guard at Umm Qasr's port near Basra, 420 km (260 miles) southeast of Baghdad July 10, 2009. Unions are lobbying against Iraq's new oil contract with BP and China's CNPC, but the weakened labour movement may have a hard time thwarting deals desperately needed to revive a struggling oil sector.  Picture taken July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ CONFLICT POLITICS EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS ENERGY) - RTR25MGP
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Iraq has decided to exempt foreign companies involved in the Faw Port project from customs duties and taxes. This decision was an attempt to accelerate the completion of the stalled project, through which Iraq has sought to confront Kuwait’s maritime expansion by building a similar port nearby.

government statement issued on Aug. 27 said, “In accordance with the laws in force, foreign companies shall be exempt from taxes and duties for the purpose of executing the Faw Port project, given that it is a developmental project.”

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