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FICCI to make a case for Indian cos.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 18. Indian industry is confident of getting a `significant portion' of the $300 billion to be spent for reconstruction work in Iraq over the next 5-7 years as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) prepares to despatch its second delegation to the U.S. to make a case for Indian companies.

"Reconstruction work in post-war Iraq will be of a total value of around $300 billion to be spent during the next 5-7 years. We expect Indian companies to get around 10-20 per cent of the amount," FICCI President, A. C. Muthiah, told reporters here after the return of his organisation's delegation from the U.S. on Thursday. The delegation met the U.S. aid agencies during its visit.

The federation is now preparing the agenda to send its second delegation to the U.S. to apprise the agencies and companies of Indian expertise that could be used in reconstruction projects in Iraq. The delegation would leave for the U.S. after a thorough assessment was made by the FICCI office in the U.S. and once preparatory processes were complete, the Secretary General of FICCI, Amit Mitra, said.

The mission of the delegation would be to secure contracts and sub-contracts in Iraq for Indian companies. The delegation which retuned has done some ground work and it was able to convince the Office of Iraq Programme (OIP) to accept the entire orders of Indian wheat and list that as a priority commodity and continue with the present rate of orders. According to Mr. Mitra, the OIP assured the delegation that tea and LPG cylinders would be considered in the priority list at a later stage depending on the availability of funds.

With 50 per cent of the initial funds of $3 billion, provided by the U.S. from its budget, going to Britain and other countries for sub-contracting, Mr. Mitra said FICCI was already in talks with the British Consultants and Construction Bureau, the body looking after reconstruction work in Iraq.

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