Ministry of Transport and Communications Strategic Plan Principles

Ministry of Transport and Communications Strategic Plan Principles The primary objective is re-defining the Ministry’s goal of dispensing its services to the Iraqi people through a free market economy policy orientation focusing in the short-term on the improvement of each sub-sector, and in the longer term on the cost-effective development of the transport infrastructure and services in accordance with the following principles: (1) Transport modes bear entirely their socio-economical costs, including those for their infrastructure maintenance and development; (2) Communications, being a profit generating sector will be administered according to strict commercial principles without competition-distorting cross-subsidies; (3) The general principle applying to all MOTC sectors is: " as much competition as possible; as little regulation and controls as strictly necessary " On the ministry-level , the objectives include bringing the ministry’s buildings, facilities, systems and personnel to pre-war conditions; re-organize the ministry to account for effective realignment of functional entities between government and commercial entities (to be corporatized under a “holding company” model), deba’athification and security clearance of staff, and adjusting organization structure to bring under MOTC all relevant transport-related agencies in government. Initiate an Iraq Integrated Multi-Modal System Plan (Plan). For Surface Transport , the medium term objectives include implementing the Umm Qasr improvement contract, and implement measures to improve the services in all MOTC sectors and companies. Long-term objectives on the sectoral level include: Ports : Implement Ports Master Plan, with a clearly defined mandate, and evaluate the corporatization of ports to operate independently and efficiently according to commercial principles. Inland Waterway : Initiate Inland Waterway Development Plan, to re-establish river navigation between Shatt El Arab and Baghdad, with dredging, navigation and berth facilities funded as state assets; operation based on commercial basis. Railways : Improve, upgrade and expand Iraq’s railway system, infrastructure and upgrade service provided to Iraqi customers. Railroad operation and infrastructure will be optimized as per findings of the Plan. Eventually, the system will be split, where infrastructure is kept as a state asset, while operations is corporatized and run competitively. Public Transport : Public transport service for cargo and passengers, urban and inter-city will be improved as per findings of the Plan; operations performed commercially and competitively; possible government subsidy for Urban Transport assessed in coordination with local government, and all transport companies currently under MOTC are put under a "Holding Company" to ensure operations are optimized through corporatization. International Transport Links : As per findings of the Plan, and when economically justified, new transport infrastructure is implemented to ensure adequate linkage to all neighboring countries for all modes of transport. Multi-Modal Facilities : The Plan will also identify the need, location, size and nature of Multi-modal facilities as the major nodes in the national transport system to enhance efficiency of inter-modal interfaces. For Civil Aviation , the objectives include opening Iraqi airspace to over-flights; opening the international airports in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul to commercial traffic; implementing corporatization for all airports run as quasi-commercial entities leading to private sector funding and investment in business, adopting transparent monetary procedures and enforce tariff and trade agreements by GCAA; and implement infrastructure development as per findings of the Plan, both in terms airspace modernization and airport expansion and upgrade. The long-term objectives cover establishing harmonious regulatory procedures and enforcement procedures in Iraq in line with the international standards that would ensure the safe, secure and efficient air travel and commerce in Iraq. For Telecommunication and Post , the primary objective is to reconstruct the facilities and repair the damage for the telecommunication system in Iraq and bring it back to pre-war condition on the short-term, and to advanced technology standards on the long-term, which includes land lines, wireless/mobile and internet. Other objectives include establishing policy and procedures for regulating the telecommunication markets, and upgrade the postal and mail services provided to the Iraqi public. Return to Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications