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The skyline of the city is shown August 5, 2002 in Baghdad, Iraq. The nation celebrated the 14th anniversary of the end of the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran War August 8, 2002 with a wreath laying ceremony and a military parade. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein used the occasion to announce that he is not afraid of U.S. military threats. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images) Image used for illustrative purpose
Iraq on Tuesday broke ground on a project to build a new city near the capital Baghdad after it was awarded to an Egyptian developer.
Al-Wardi city comprises 100,000 houses and will be constructed by Ora Developers, owned by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, the official Iraqi news agency reported.
Construction and Housing Minister Benkin Rikani laid the foundation stone for the project, which has an area of nearly 60 square kilometres.
“This is one of the largest housing projects in Iraq…it also includes schools, universities, hospitals, shops and recreation facilities,” Rikani said.
Iraq has awarded several contracts to foreign firms over the past two years for the construction of new cities within a post-war programme to tackle a housing crisis.
Last month, Zawya Projects reported that Egypt-listed TMG in talks with the Iraqi government to build 45,000 houses in the country.
(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)
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