Top Indian companies are participating in the "Rebuild Iraq 2004" exposition being held in Kuwait, vying for a slice of the huge business opportunities that exist in Iraq.
As many as 26 major and medium Indian companies are participating in the five-day expo that began on January 19, which include state-owned Bharat Earth Movers Limited, makers of heavy equipment and machinery, EMCO, a leading transformer maker and Finolex Cables, manufacturer of communication and electrical cables.
Lamps exporters Surya Roshni, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited, storage tank makers Vijaya Tanks and Vessels and the turnkey contract major Voltas are also attending the expo.
"Indians have a lot of experience of working in Iraq. Our skilled manpower and low cost efficient technologies will make India one of the main contenders for getting sub-contracting jobs in the re-construction of Iraq," Anil K Agarwal, chairman, India-Iraq Joint Business Council, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told PTI.
Indian companies will participate in the fields of oil and gas, power, healthcare, water and sanitation, civil construction, telecom, food processing, education and IT services, Agarwal said.
"We have been informed that a few Indian companies like KEC and Crompton Greaves have already received sub-contracting work in Iraq and they have deployed their equipment and technical teams there," he said.
Agarwal said FICCI also participated in the "Outreach 2004" expo, Amman, Jordan, held from January 11 to 13, and was confident of becoming a partner in the reconstruction of Iraq.
"In the reconstruction of Iraq, the prime contracts would perhaps go to US corporations as the money is being provided by the US Government," he said, adding that the sub-contracting work, however, will be given to companies in the region.
Another area where India is strongly placed is in the export of wheat. "Iraq had agreed to buy about one billion tonnes of Indian wheat. India could supply only about 60,000 tonnes and then came the war.
"Several contracts are still pending for execution but we are hopeful that the Iraqi Ministry of Trade will revive these contracts," Agarwal said.
Swash Pawan Singh, India's Ambassador to Kuwait, said India could be a strong partner in the reconstruction of Iraq.
"It is a big opportunity for a large number of Indian companies," Singh said.
"The process of transfer of power in Iraq has started. The situation is stabilising and when it does it will open up huge opportunities," he said.
"India is on strong ground here having a very special knowledge of the actual work conditions in Iraq. The Indian companies have worked there in the past in various areas plus we have the capability and nobody can do it at the cost we can offer. India has a very good opportunity in personnel, services and products," he said.
Some Indian companies like the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation had set up office in Iraq and signed agreements with the ousted government of Saddam Hussain. Singh said the agreements already signed were likely to be honoured while those in the pipeline will have to renegotiated.
Kuwait will have an active role in the reconstruction of Iraq. "They have good infrastructure in banking, financial services and telecommunications. As Kuwait is very close to southern Iraq, a number of companies doing projects in Iraq will set up their base in Kuwait," he said.
He said the embassy has also been advising the Indian firms to form joint ventures with Arab companies to gain access to Iraq.
"We have suggested to the Indian private sector that it will be useful to form a sort of consortium with the companies in Kuwait and other Arab countries."
