Amman, Apr 25: The violence gripping Iraq will not deter the US-led coalition from rebuilding the war-ravaged nation, an official with the coalition provisional authority said today. Tony Leketa, director of construction at the CPA's Iraq program management office, spoke at a workshop gathering some 500 businessmen from the United States, Europe and Arab countries to discuss ways to invest in seven major sectors in Iraq, like oil, telecommunications and electricity all part of the US reconstruction efforts.
``Nothing will stop us from rebuilding Iraq,'' Leketa said. A US embassy statement said the one-day workshop provides a ``venue for networking and face-to-face interaction'' between the CPA's Iraq program management office, prime US, British and Italian contractors in Iraq and subcontractors seeking opportunities in the Arab country. The workshop is part of a series of similar gatherings to be convened by the PMO's director, Rear Admiral David Nash, according to a statement on the office's web site. It said the other meetings will be held at unspecified dates in the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Australia and South Korea.
Prime contractors in Sunday's meeting were represented by major firms, like Bechtel of San Francisco, Perini Electrical of Washington, D.C., and the Britain-based foster wheeler.
Bureau Report