Diyala airport project in Iraq awarded to Canadian firm

Diyala remains one of the most infamously restive provinces in Iraq and still suffers regular insurgency. Nevertheless, a Canadian company has been awarded the contract to build a new airport there, under the protection of Iraqi security.

The civilian airport will be built at Mansuriya town, 35 kilometres (21.9 miles) east of Baquba, Diyala's provincial capital. It is expected to infuse increased business earnings into the local economy, as well as create jobs and help build a social residential infrastructure alongside, adding to prosperity in a long neglected area.Following months of negotiations, the Vancouver headquartered firm has obtained the approval from the Diyala Investment Board for the project along with the agreement of the National Investment Board and the Ministry of Transportation. Details of the deal were conveyed through AKnews based on a statement made by Mujawwal Tayee, head of Diyala Investment Board. Details of the new civil aviation project, were released following a survey visit to verify the feasibility of the chosen airport site and establish security coverage in orderto launch the project. Mansuriya administrator, Ragheb Zeydan, advised AKnews that the Canadian company will be well protected against potential trouble in the town, due to the many benefits it will bring to the local population. Ledcor Group of Companies is privately held and 100 per cent employee owned. Its history from 1947 onwards is firmly rooted in an oil industry background based on the Leduc discovery in Alberta, Canada, at which point, William Lede founded Leduc Construction to deliver access roads to the new oilfield.Ledcor has expanded geographically from the 1980's onwards and diversified into the building and industrial sectors, to be made up of six construction divisions: Commercial Building, Heavy Civil, Industrial, Mining, Pipeline and Telecommunications. The firm employs 5,000 people and also has a US head office located in San Diego, California. In terms of airport experience, it has been awarded several contracts by the Fort McMurray Airport Authority in order to expand and redevelop the airport, which is set to become Canada's leading regional aviation facility.