Iraqi born CEO learns from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Courtesy Photo | Almco CEO Namir El Akabi, oleft tours Logistical Support Area Butler with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Central District Engineer Col. Ronald N. Light and project engineer Dennis Howland II.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.28.2009

Story by Ronald A. Reeves 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Central District - Iraq

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq— "We've done nearly $1 billion worth of projects in Iraq and they all are really important in different sectors," said Iraqi-born Namir El Akabi, Almco Group of Companies CEO. Almco works with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers now, but began small in comparison.

Six years ago, El Akabi managed a $500 contract hauling fuel for the U.S. government. Today Almco is completing such construction projects as the Sadr City Water Treatment Plant, a Logistical Support Area in Baghdad and the Taji Location Command.

"When you build barracks for the Iraqi army, this is very important; building training grounds for the Iraqi army; that's very important. Then of course, there are the civilian projects, like the clinics we did in 2004. They were spread all over Iraq and they are giving free treatment to Iraqis. These are the projects that are in my heart," said El Akabi.

USACE's Central District, Gulf Region Division, oversees Almco projects in Baghdad and Al-Anbar provinces. USACE contracts awarded to Almco total $288 million. Almco completed 27 projects and continues with 24 others.

One significant Almco project is the Sadr City Water Treatment Plant, which provides 200,000 Sadr City residents with clean, potable water. The three-year, $65 million endeavor supplies water to 27 sectors in Sadr City.

"This is a 4,000 cubic meters per hour water treatment plant for Sadr City, a city which has been deprived of the basics of infrastructure during Saddam's regime. This is one of the major projects we're very proud of. It was a very technical project," El Akabi said.

What began as a five-person work force in 2003, grew into a 6,500-person company providing jobs for Iraqis, which El Akabi says: "changed their lives upside down."

Prior to 2003, El Akabi said that all Iraqis cared about is a shelter over their head and food to feed their families. "That was their main purpose of life," El Akabi said. "They can see the Western way. They can see taking their families to holidays, for example. This is unheard of prior to 2003. They can buy satellite. They can use the internet, which was basically banned prior to 2003."

The Almco CEO says that his company is one of the highest paying companies in Iraq. "We look after our employees and, in turn, they give us very good treatment back. They feel part of the company really."

As Almco Group of Companies grew, El Akabi said that working on more than 50 USACE projects helped him and his employees show off their talents.

"We learned many things. We learned many things ethically and we learned many things technically," said El Akabi. "The truth is always the way out. Be truthful with your client and they will understand. And, of course, there is the technical part: how to do construction the correct way, safety, quality, submittal, quality of the materials used on the site. We learned a lot of things from working with the Corps of Engineers."

Quality, cost effectiveness and safety are doctrinal standards to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. USACE officials distribute Engineer Manual 385-1-1 in Arabic to as many contractors as possible. This publication is the USACE Safety and Health Requirements Manual.

According to GRC project managers, Almco and El Akabi continue to make strides toward achieving Western safety standards. For example, El Akabi said Almco's electricians know the NEC Standard, the international standard for electricity.

"Prior to 2003, Iraqi workers used to work in slippers if they're lucky and we had a problem you know. It was a big and huge challenge for us really," El Akabi said. His company hired experts from the U.S. and his workers wear safety harnesses, hard hats, and steel-toed boots.

"For Iraqi workers, you need to teach them how to crawl, walk, and then start running. I would say our standards in Almco are about 80 percent to 90 percent of Western standard safety-wise today," said El Akabi

One Almco project scheduled for a June completion is Logistical Support Area, Butler on Victory Base Complex. The project is also referred to as the 500-man camp and will house Iraqi law enforcement personnel and their U.S. trainers. The $11.3 million facility has its own dining and laundry facilities. Central District officials are pleased with the quality and safety at LSA Butler.

"Early, there were problems," said Penny Coulon, GRC construction representative at LSA Bulter. "Almco didn't have enough quality control inspectors. However, Namir seemed sincere in his objectives. When problems were brought to his attention, they were addressed fairly quickly."

At Taji, about 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Almco received construction awards for warehouse repairs, a regional training center, the Taji Location Command, and permanent dorms for Iraqi air force personnel. The total for Almco's Taji projects is estimated at $114 million.

"Some of my employees had tears in their eyes to see the Iraqi air force coming up again," El Akabi said, adding that they were all excited to see helicopters adorned with Iraqi flags and Iraqi airmen marching across the parade field.

"Mr. El Akabi's success is extraordinary, and it demonstrates exactly the kind of capacity building Central District has helped to grow and nurture. Every member of the Central District team takes pride in Almco's success," said Central District commander, Col. Ronald N. Light.

• Date Taken: 04.28.2009
• Date Posted: 05.01.2009 05:50
• Story ID: 33089
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ