The construction of the first phase of a new campus for Cihan University in Sulaimaniya province of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq is expected to be completed in early October 2013. The construction work is scheduled to be carried out in four phases to end by 2017 at an estimated cost of USD 156 million, an official source told Zawya.
"The project involves the building of the second branch of Cihan University in Sulaimaniya. The university's headquarters is located in Erbil, the project is one of the strategic investment projects in the education sector," said Dr. Kamran Al-Mufti, director general of the contract evaluation and authorization department of the Kurdistan Board of Investment.
Al-Mufti added that the project will be implemented by local company- Cihan, over a period of four years after obtaining a license from the Investment Authority in Kurdistan in November 2012. The project will be set up on an area of 99,600 square meters at an estimated cost of USD 156 million.
Cihan University is a private English-speaking educational institution. It is one of the first universities established in Erbil, and was approved by the ministry of higher education and scientific research of Iraqi Kurdistan in 2006, and first commenced operations in 2007.
Investments are growing in the Kurdistan region mainly due to the stable security of the region compared to the rest of Iraq. Investment Law No. 4 of 2006, under which the Investment Authority in Kurdistan was established, encourages foreign and local investments, particularly in the field of strategic projects, including energy, housing and tourism.
Dr. Amjad Sabir, president, Cihan University said, "The project includes four phases. The first phase started in December 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by early October 2013. During this phase, administration buildings and students' halls will be constructed."
"Private investment in education is supportive to public education programs, as it injects more money into this sector, and provides job opportunities for many specialties, more investments are needed in this vital sector," said Dr. Salahuddin Kaku, economist and president of SABIS University in Erbil.
Zawya 2013
