Investors protest lack of services in Ur Industrial City

NASIRIYAH — Investors in Ur Industrial City, west of Nasiriyah, protested Saturday, demanding essential services, including electricity and water, which they say have stalled development in the area. The protest comes four years after the Iraqi government allocated 494 acres for four industrial zones — two for light industries and two for medium-sized industries — with planned facilities for steel production, vegetable oil manufacturing, and paper waste recycling.

Investors said their projects have been delayed due to the failure of the Ministry of Industry, along with federal and local governments, to provide the necessary services.

“We signed contracts with the Ministry of Industry to invest in Ur Industrial City, under the condition that the ministry, along with local and federal governments, would provide essential services like water and electricity,” investor Hossam Salem told 964media. “Two years have passed since my contract, and the city, which represents a significant economic opportunity with its diverse factories, remains paralyzed due to a lack of services.”

Mohammed Al-Nasiri, the manager of a paper waste recycling plant, echoed these concerns, saying the city has the potential to create jobs and stimulate local markets.

“This city could play a major role in employing local workers and boosting the economy,” Al-Nasiri said. “It can accommodate around 100 factories and already includes several, such as the recycling plant, an oil factory, and a steel mill, but all are idle because of the lack of services.”

Protesters called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and both federal and local governments to “save the industrial city,” stressing its importance in revitalizing the economy if the basic operational needs are met.

The protest in Nasiriyah highlights a broader issue across Iraq, where numerous development projects remain stalled. As of Feb. 19, 2024, there were 1,452 lagging projects across all regions of the country, according to statistics from the Ministry of Planning. These projects span essential sectors, including services, transport, communications, buildings, and agriculture and industry, according to Ministry of Planning spokesman Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, who spoke to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Al-Hindawi noted that “the ministry has categorized these projects based on completion rates; the first category is for projects with a completion rate of 10 percent or less, the second category is for projects between 10 and 50 percent, and the third category is for projects with a completion rate above 50 percent.”