I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Think tank calls for public-private partnership for Iraq reconstruction
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff reporter
A state-run think tank called on the government, along with local businesses, to gear up for reconstruction projects in Iraq, predicting the demand will rise in the near future.
In a report entitled "Prospects of the Iraqi Economy after the General Elections," the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) said the total economic value of the ongoing and planned oil and gas exploitation projects in the Middle Eastern country reaches approximately $126 billion.
The think tank anticipates that once political stability comes to Iraq in the wake of the general elections, the demand for reconstruction in oil and gas fields will increase.
The Iraqiya coalition won the most seats in the March 7 parliamentary elections, defeating the State of Law Coalition with a narrow margin.
However political instability continues there after the elections.
If the new Iraqi government is set firmly in place, the KIEP said the Middle Eastern country will invite foreign bidders to join the massive infrastructure project that is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
Currently, Korea is undertaking a $510-million project to construct plants, hospitals and gas turbines there.
In February, a Korean delegation consisting of officials from 25 entities in the public and private sectors visited Baghdad to discuss possible cooperation with Iraq in energy, infrastructure and the application of the Korean growth model.