A project to build Iraq’s first administrative capital near the existing political capital Baghdad would be completed within five years, an official has said. 

A consortium of “specialised” global companies has prepared the designs for the “strategic project” in coordination with a committee grouping several government offices, said Suha Al-Najjar, head of the National Investment Commission. 

She told Iraq’s Shafaq News agency that the cabinet has already endorsed the project, with an area of around 106 sq km. 

“The designed area of the administrative capital has been expanded…the project will be completed within five years, but this period could be extended depending on developments in the project,” she said. 

In comments last week, Najjar said the project would be executed in four phases, the first of which comprises the construction of around 75,000 houses as well as commercial, education, health and amusement facilities. 

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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