OREANDA-NEWS.   TAQA, the international energy and water company from Abu Dhabi, has formally opened its new office in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The office was inaugurated by His Excellency Abdulla Saif Al-Nuaimi, TAQA Vice-Chairman, in the presence of His Excellency Sinan Abdulkhalq Ahmed Celebi, Minister of Trade and Industry; Mr. Nawzad Hadi Mawlood, the Governor of Erbil Province from the Kurdistan Regional Government, and His Excellency Rashid Mohammed Al Mansouri, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in Erbil.

His Excellency Al-Nuaimi said, “This new office gives us a powerful tool to leverage and amplify the enormous skills of our professionals who bring expertise from across the globe to the exciting possibilities we see here. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government and our other partners in furthering the economic development of this region and the country.”

His Excellency Dr Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Natural Resources for the Kurdistan Regional Government: “We congratulate TAQA on the inauguration of their new office here in Erbil and welcome their continued activities to develop the promising oil and gas opportunities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.”

His Excellency Al Mansouri said: "The presence of such a major UAE company like TAQA in the Kurdistan region of Iraq brings many significant benefits, most importantly towards the UAE’s commitment to strengthen relations with the Kurdistan Region. TAQA will also encourage other UAE companies to follow suit and seek opportunities here. We wish TAQA and the Kurdistan Region every success in further strengthening their mutually beneficial relationship”.

The new TAQA office features an open-plan design to boost productivity, innovation and creative team-driven approaches to the company’s business in the country. It is a workspace that reflects the highest standards of safety and design, delivering extra comfort to employees and a reduced carbon footprint.

Leo Koot, President of TAQA Iraq, said: “As we continue to move forward on our ambitious production schedule that anticipates delivering first oil by early 2015, this new office gives us a powerful tool to leverage and amplify the enormous skills of our professionals who bring expertise from across the globe to the exciting possibilities we see in Kurdistan.”

The inauguration was attended by TAQA’s partner companies in the Atrush Block, other oil and gas operators and leading members of the local business community.