Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI2256
2003-05-10 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAEG LAYS OUT SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR IRAQ
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:19:42 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS TELEGRAM May 10, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2256 - PRIORITY) TAGS: BEXP, BBSR, ECON, ETRD, EINV Captions: None Subject: UAEG LAYS OUT SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 02256 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL AMB P/M DCM Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: CDA: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER CLEARED: ADCM: TWILLIAMS VZCZCADI465 PP RUEHC RUCNRAQ RUEHDE RUCPDOC DE RUEHAD #2256 1301214 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101214Z MAY 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9864 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3105 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002256
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/RA, NEA/ARP, EB/CBA
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/10/08
TAGS: BEXP BBSR ECON ETRD EINV TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LAYS OUT SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR IRAQ
RECONSTRUCTION
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002256
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/RA, NEA/ARP, EB/CBA
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/10/08
TAGS: BEXP BBSR ECON ETRD EINV TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LAYS OUT SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR IRAQ
RECONSTRUCTION
1. (U) Classified by Charge D'Affaires Richard A. Albright
for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) Summary and comment: UAE Ministry of Finance
Assistant Undersecretary for Revenue and Budget Khalid Al-
Bustani laid out for Econchief 5/6 the UAEG's priorities
for Iraq reconstruction. A memo he provided highlighted
three areas -- port and airport management, banking and
finance, and oil -- in which the UAEG expects local
companies to provide expertise and project management
services to Iraq. The UAEG is eager to get its foot in the
door of Iraq reconstruction, and is likely to use its
membership in the informal working group on Iraq
reconstruction to promote local companies' participation.
In fact, the UAE's representatives to the informal working
group represent local institutions with a strong interest
in the UAE's agenda: Central Bank Governor Sultan Al-
Suweidi and Finance Minister of State Mohammed Khirbash
speak to the UAE's muscle in financial services, and Dubai
Ports Authority's enigmatic chairman Sultan Bin Sulayem
highlights DPA's stellar record of ports management at home
and abroad. End summary and comment.
Port and Airport Management
--------------
3. (C) The UAE proposes that local companies be considered
for the construction and management of three free zones in
southern, central, and northern Iraq, as well as for the
management of the major Iraqi airports. (Note: The UAE has
12 free trade zones, half of which are in Dubai. End
note.) The memo also suggests that UAE companies could
reorganize the navigation routes and dredge the channels to
Umm Qasr using state-of-the-art technology, electronic
mapping, and positioning equipment. Dubai Ports Authority
has offered to provide a customs area and warehousing
facilities in Jebel Ali specifically for shipment of goods
to Iraq.
Banking, Finance, and Insurance
--------------
4. (C) The UAE Central Bank is prepared to provide
training to Iraqi Central Bank officials in banking
operations, banking supervision and examination, treasury
operations (including reserve management and foreign
exchange and monetary policy instruments),and in the
management of a network of ATMs, POS and PC Banking. The
UAEG also offers to provide training in anti-money
laundering detection and investigation -- an area in which
the UAEG has made tremendous strides since 2000. The memo
also suggests that the UAEG repatriate a number of Iraqi
bankers currently working in the UAE in order to provide
immediate, experienced human capital to the Iraqi financial
sector.
Oil Sector
--------------
5. (C) In more vague terms, the memo suggests the UAE's
willingness to assist in the reconstruction of the Iraqi
oil sector, particularly in the areas of exploration,
refining, processing, distribution and management. The
UAEG is cognizant of the sensitivities related to the
management of the Iraqi oil sector, and probably will wait
for a clearer picture of governance to emerge before
offering more specific proposals.
Albright
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/RA, NEA/ARP, EB/CBA
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/10/08
TAGS: BEXP BBSR ECON ETRD EINV TC
SUBJECT: UAEG LAYS OUT SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR IRAQ
RECONSTRUCTION
1. (U) Classified by Charge D'Affaires Richard A. Albright
for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
2. (C) Summary and comment: UAE Ministry of Finance
Assistant Undersecretary for Revenue and Budget Khalid Al-
Bustani laid out for Econchief 5/6 the UAEG's priorities
for Iraq reconstruction. A memo he provided highlighted
three areas -- port and airport management, banking and
finance, and oil -- in which the UAEG expects local
companies to provide expertise and project management
services to Iraq. The UAEG is eager to get its foot in the
door of Iraq reconstruction, and is likely to use its
membership in the informal working group on Iraq
reconstruction to promote local companies' participation.
In fact, the UAE's representatives to the informal working
group represent local institutions with a strong interest
in the UAE's agenda: Central Bank Governor Sultan Al-
Suweidi and Finance Minister of State Mohammed Khirbash
speak to the UAE's muscle in financial services, and Dubai
Ports Authority's enigmatic chairman Sultan Bin Sulayem
highlights DPA's stellar record of ports management at home
and abroad. End summary and comment.
Port and Airport Management
--------------
3. (C) The UAE proposes that local companies be considered
for the construction and management of three free zones in
southern, central, and northern Iraq, as well as for the
management of the major Iraqi airports. (Note: The UAE has
12 free trade zones, half of which are in Dubai. End
note.) The memo also suggests that UAE companies could
reorganize the navigation routes and dredge the channels to
Umm Qasr using state-of-the-art technology, electronic
mapping, and positioning equipment. Dubai Ports Authority
has offered to provide a customs area and warehousing
facilities in Jebel Ali specifically for shipment of goods
to Iraq.
Banking, Finance, and Insurance
--------------
4. (C) The UAE Central Bank is prepared to provide
training to Iraqi Central Bank officials in banking
operations, banking supervision and examination, treasury
operations (including reserve management and foreign
exchange and monetary policy instruments),and in the
management of a network of ATMs, POS and PC Banking. The
UAEG also offers to provide training in anti-money
laundering detection and investigation -- an area in which
the UAEG has made tremendous strides since 2000. The memo
also suggests that the UAEG repatriate a number of Iraqi
bankers currently working in the UAE in order to provide
immediate, experienced human capital to the Iraqi financial
sector.
Oil Sector
--------------
5. (C) In more vague terms, the memo suggests the UAE's
willingness to assist in the reconstruction of the Iraqi
oil sector, particularly in the areas of exploration,
refining, processing, distribution and management. The
UAEG is cognizant of the sensitivities related to the
management of the Iraqi oil sector, and probably will wait
for a clearer picture of governance to emerge before
offering more specific proposals.
Albright