posted September 14, 2006 04:09 PM            

To anyone that would like to learn more and check out the organization:

wwww.theotheriraq.org

I found this to be quite interesting:

Update on Developments in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq

The Kurdistan Region in Iraq is developing at great speed. We are pleased to provide an update on main developments further to the information included in the Other Iraq adverts and documentary.

The new Iraqi Constitution for a federal Iraq means that Kurdistan is now in a position to validate its own regional constitution, one that will provide the framework for a society in which human rights, including women’s rights, are upheld, the business environment is regulated and the rule of law is supreme.

The newly unified Kurdistan Regional Government was announced in April 2006 with Nechirvan Barzani as Prime Minister and Omer Fattah as Deputy Prime Minister.

Not a single coalition soldier has lost his/her life or a single foreigner kidnapped in the Region administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government

A new investment law has been passed by the by the Kurdistan National Assembly and is awaiting ratification by the President of the Kurdistan Region. Investors will have a legal, secure and business friendly constitutional environment that is designed to encourage inward investment.

An innovative 2 million sq meter industrial city (Arat) is planned 25 kilometres outside Erbil and will be open to foreign investment.

Erbil International and Suleimani Airports are now fully operational and receive regular direct flights from neighbouring countries and Europe and the Erbil International Hotel enjoys maximum occupancy with visiting foreign press and business delegations.

2,800 Korean troops and fewer than 1,000 US troops are stationed in the Kurdistan region to assist in rehabilitating infrastructure such as water supply/sewerage, roads, school renovations and constructing town halls.

A new, modern conference centre is set to open in Erbil which will attract more and more industry conferences, exhibitions and high-level trade and political delegations. Foreign governments have been in the process of opening representation and commercial offices in Erbil including Austria, the Czech Republic, Russia and the UK.

Updates as of July 2006