Deir Ezzor - Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri inaugurated on Thursday the 6th Section Irrigation Project in the Lower Euphrates Basin in Deir Ezzor, whose overall area is 11,603 hectares at an overall cost of SYP 5 billions (1 USD is equal to about 47 SYP).
The Project is located on the left bank of the Euphrates, 70 km away from Deir Ezzor, expanding over 7 villages. It consists of 2 water-pumping stations at a flow rate of 17 cubic meters per second, a channel connecting the two stations, a 10-km-long main channel, a transfer station and power-transfer networks.
There are also irrigation and sewer networks along the project area of an overall length of 500 km.
The project aims at raising the social and economic conditions of the residents, providing necessary requirements for the farmers, benefiting from the Euphrates' water, supporting food stability and security, lowering the level of underground water, reclamation of saline lands, increasing agricultural productivity and providing job opportunities.
Otri also inaugurated al-Furat Oil and Gas Technical Institute. He toured the Institute's parts and listened to a review of the teaching and training plans at the Petro-Chemical Engineering Faculty and technical institutes.
The Institute is located at al-Taim field in Deir Ezzor at a SYP 19 million cost. It comprises 10 labs and 5 teaching halls accommodating 48 students, 11 administrative halls, in addition to 17 specialized rooms for students' residence.
100 students are to be admitted to the Institute in 2010-2011, 50 of them from the eastern region in various specializations.
On the sidelines of the visit, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources signed a memo of understanding in the field of offering expertise for future planning to achieve sustainable development an all levels.
Otri opened the Faculty of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at al-Furat University, touring its parts and teaching halls.
The Faculty includes stadiums, teaching halls and administrative rooms. 150 students were admitted to the Faculty for the year 2010-2011.
Otri also inaugurated the Single Window Project at Deir Ezzor City Council, which is considered the first step towards the e-government. The cost of the project is estimated at SYP 6 millions, covering an area of 220 square meters. The project is intended to ease measures for citizens.
The Prime Minister also visited the Industrial City of Deir Ezzor and was briefed in details on the investment situation at the City and the steps implemented during the first and second phases of construction.
With an estimated cost of SYP 7.5 billions, the Industrial City covers an area of 2850 hectares and is expected to provide more than 50,000 job opportunities in industrial projects.
324 parcels are expected to be established in the second phase of implementation which has started by the beginning of 2010 and will end in 2013. The third phase will continue until 2018 during which 124 more parcels will be built to make a total of 771 parcels specialized in four major industries: chemical, food, textile and engineering.
The total implementation of infrastructure projects in the City has reached 91percent with a cost of about SYP 1.66 billions. There are already 74 subscribed and underway projects which have provided 1447 job opportunities with an investment cost of SYP 5.714 billions. The underway projects make 20 projects with a capital of SYP 1.276 billions. They have provided 341 job opportunities.
Otri was also briefed on the work and implementation stages of the Open Heart Surgery Center project in Deir Ezzor which has been designed as an independent center as it was provided with a medical gas plant and a medical waste treatment plant.
He also visited the Youth Housing Project in al-Assad Suburb in Deir Ezzor which spreads over a total area of 600,000 square meters with an estimated cost exceeding SYP 4 billions. 2806 housing buildings are planned to be built over two stages until 2014 as part of the project.
Later, Premier Otri discussed with Rector and Board of Directors of al-Furat University the government's plans and programs on the level of developing human resources and supporting the scientific research process, calling for developing university curricula to meet the needs of the sustainable development process and the job market in the various sectors.
Minister of Higher Education Ghiath Barakat presented a review of al-Furat University including its faculties, teaching programs and its plans for opening new faculties and majors and providing all necessary technical and lab equipment.
Al-Furat University, which was established according to Law No. 33 for 2006, now includes 23 faculties in different majors located in the three eastern provinces; 11 faculties in Deir Ezzor, 8 in Hasaka and 4 in Raqqa. Over 40,000 students are studying at those faculties.
Otri also paid a visit to al-Futoua Sport Club and met with its Board of Directors. He stressed the government's interest in supporting the Club through providing all the requirements to guarantee its success.
Following his tour across Deir Ezzor, Otri told journalists that his visit to the city and the inauguration of those projects came within the framework of the government's keenness on translating the directives of President Bashar al-Assad into reality in terms of following up on the sustainable development process and improving human resources and infrastructure in the eastern region.
By Manal Ismael /Haifa Said
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
