PM Barzani lays foundation stone of over $9M bridge in Ranya; announces four new projects

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also announced four new projects, worth over nine billion Iraqi dinars (above seven million USD), that would be executed by his cabinet in the area.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a 9-million-USD bridge in the region’s Ranya city as he announced four new projects for the city.

Prime Minister Barzani along with Dana Abdulkarim, Minister of Construction and Housing, and other relevant ministers and local authorities attended an event in Ranya city to lay the foundation stone of the Ranya-Bingird Bridge on Tuesday.

The 420-meter-long bridge is planned to be built on Ranya lake, known as Darband. The project has been allocated 11,300 billion IQD (over $9 million) by the KRG, which connects Ranya city with Sulaimani province and its surrounding areas.  

The bridge would be a “strategic” project for the people of the area as it facilitates “farmers to reach their products to the market,” Prime Minister Barzani said during a speech he presented at the ceremony.

This is the first project of its kind that the KRG has laid its foundation in the city since it took office in July last year.

The project would also “serve as a bridge that helps revive trade and tourism sector [in the area],” Prime Minister Barzani added.

Ranya city is a rich area with agricultural lands and scenery, possessing a score of resorts that locals and foreigners pay a visit to during holidays. The city is also located near the Iranian border where cross-border trade activities are active.

The project would be executed by a local company. The prime minister expressed his delight that a “Kurdistani company is able to execute such big projects” and he extended his appreciation toward the staff.

Barzani announces four new projects

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also announced four new projects, worth over nine billion Iraqi dinars (nearly seven million USD), that would be executed by his cabinet in the area.

The projects, the prime minister announced, include a center for breast cancer patients, two-side road of Ranya bazar, 60-meter street of Qaladze, and renovating the schools of the area.

“The nation’s asset should be spent for the sake of serving the residents [of the Kurdistan Region],” PM Barzani added.

The prime minister also thanked the people of the area that have been resilient despite all the health and economic crisis they have faced, including the security forces and public employees.  

Barzani expressed his cabinet’s intention to build factories to receive farmers’ crops across the Kurdistan Region along with industrial areas.

The KRG Investment Board previously announced it is discussing ways to implement 11 industrial zones by investors, and each zone would have at least 30 factories, which would provide thousands of job opportunities for the public, according to Shukri.

Read More: Kurdistan Region to build 11 industrial areas

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany