0 USAID team meet in Thi Qar

Thi-Qar, 21 February 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

The businessmen's union in Thi Qar held its first economic development conference to support private sector institutions in southern Iraqi provinces under the supervision of the USAID and in coordination with the local chamber of commerce."An agreement has been made with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish a development center with the aim of supporting small projects in the southern area," the union's head, Ahmad Bonyan, told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI)."The conference's objective is to coordinate efforts with international organizations and raise businessmen's capabilities through coordination with the businessmen's union," Bonyan explained.As part of coordination, a large number of businessmen have been sent to attend training courses in Arbil province, he added.Meanwhile, Sean Osner from the USAID said that the center will boost the private sector in the province of Thi Qar."The tourism and agricultural sectors are part of our plan, given their importance to the province," Osner added.Nassiriya, the capital city of Thi Qar province, lies 380 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.