Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from 3rd (Heavy) Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Infantry Division headquarters...... read more read more
By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd Brigade Comabt Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The Marne Economic Team (MET) and 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team leaders visited two potential businesses in the Mada'in Qada Tuesday as part of the brigade's effort to spark the local economy.
Maj. James Carlisle, 3rd HBCT civil-military operations officer, and 1st Lt. Ryan Martin, 3rd HBCT economic team chief, escorted members of the MET to a local dairy farm near Wahida and an auto assembly plant in Jisr Diyala to assess the economic viability of the two enterprises.
Carlisle said the brigade is looking for large-scale businesses that could potentially employ more than 1,000 people. Each business was targeted because they both could foster niche support businesses. Both the dairy farm and the assembly plant would require delivery of resources and end products, which could result in the establishment of additional businesses.
"The most interesting of the two was the dairy farm," Carlisle said. "The farm manager claimed to have the capacity to handle 2,000 head of cattle and produce more than four tons of milk and two tons of cheese a day. We believe that to be a high estimate, but even a fraction would be an improvement on the 10 cattle they are working now."
Carlisle said funds from the Commander's Emergency Response Program would go to updating the farm's pasteurization equipment. Coalition forces would also work with the Iraqi government to establish working relationships with national and international businesses interested in providing materials and distributing products.
Coalition forces are not working alone on developing economic alternatives in the Mada'in Qada. The minister of trade, governor of Baghdad province, Mada'in Qada Council and the Wahida Nahia Council have all pledged their support to the effort, Carlisle said. Businessmen from Jordan and Kuwait have expressed interest in partnering in the venture, both as suppliers and distributors.
"Just the initial refurbishment would provide an economic upturn for the local community due to the large number of people that would be employed," Carlisle said.
The MET, from the Multi-National Division-Center headquarters, provides brigades with assistance in economic initiatives. On Tuesday's reconnaissance, the MET provided two Naval Reserve Sailors with economic development experience, two Army contracting officers and one Army engineer. Both Sailors brought business experience from their civilian occupations.
The 3rd HBCT is based out of Fort Benning, Ga.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2007 13:59 |
| Story ID: | 11871 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 256 |
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