Fed: Australia to spend $250,000 on proposed Iraq grain centre

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2003
Fed: Australia to spend $250,000 on proposed Iraq grain centre

Australia will spend $250,000 on a feasibility study into a proposed grains processing
centre in Iraq.

Trade Minister MARK VAILE has made the announcement after a two-day visit to Baghdad.

He says much of Iraq's agriculture infrastructure was destroyed while SADDAM HUSSEIN
was in power and food standards in the country are low.

Mr VAILE says the proposed grains processing centre would include a state-of-the-art
flour mill, research and testing laboratories, education and training facilities, and
a logistics centre.

He says the centre would help consolidate Australia's strong position in Iraq's grain
market, assist Iraq in developing an internationally compliant grains standards regime,
facilitate technology transfer and build local grain processing capacity.

AAP RTV pj/jmt

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST (CANBERRA)

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