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23/05/2003
Government urged to help business secure Iraq contracts
Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary Tim Yeo has called on government to support moves by British firms to win reconstruction contracts in war-torn Iraq.
He made the plea as more than 1,000 executives from companies in the UK and other European countries turned up at a meeting in London where the American engineering conglomerate Bechtel was instructing firms on how to bid for business.
Mr Yeo said: "The reconstruction of Iraq is an opportunity for British business to use its expertise and experience in the region for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
"To make sure British companies obtain a fair share of contracts that are available, government ministers should be active in support of the British business community. I urge trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt and her team to show that they are doing everything possible, at this crucial moment, in the reconstruction process."
Bechtel have been holding a series of information conferences for businesses preparing bids, since it was awarded a $680 million rebuilding contract.
The company has strenuously denied any connection, drawn by some US national media organisation, between its merits as a bidder for Iraq contracts and the company's relationship with leading members of the US administration such as vice president Dick Cheney – who is a former employee of Bechtel.
Former Secretary of State George Shultz is a member of Bechtel's board of directors and former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who joined the Reagan administration from Bechtel, was a former general counsel and director.
In a robust statement issued shortly after the contract was awarded, Bechtel said: "Over the years, we have certainly built good relationships with important people. We network like anyone in business or the professions. Bechtel executives have been international industry leaders for decades. Industry leaders know political leaders, the people who formulate development plans, control budgets, set the rules for contractors to enter and operate in their countries, examine credentials, authorize contracts, and pay the bills for services rendered."
Any other conclusion, said Bechtel, was either "specious or irrelevant".
The company added: "Journalists have a responsibility to assess the credibility of claims rather than uncritically reporting innuendo from partisan organizations and political critics."
Elsewhere it has been reported that the General Accountancy Office and USAID's Office of Inspector General is to review Iraq contract awards following criticisms that the US was monopolising the process.
(GMcG)
He made the plea as more than 1,000 executives from companies in the UK and other European countries turned up at a meeting in London where the American engineering conglomerate Bechtel was instructing firms on how to bid for business.
Mr Yeo said: "The reconstruction of Iraq is an opportunity for British business to use its expertise and experience in the region for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
"To make sure British companies obtain a fair share of contracts that are available, government ministers should be active in support of the British business community. I urge trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt and her team to show that they are doing everything possible, at this crucial moment, in the reconstruction process."
Bechtel have been holding a series of information conferences for businesses preparing bids, since it was awarded a $680 million rebuilding contract.
The company has strenuously denied any connection, drawn by some US national media organisation, between its merits as a bidder for Iraq contracts and the company's relationship with leading members of the US administration such as vice president Dick Cheney – who is a former employee of Bechtel.
Former Secretary of State George Shultz is a member of Bechtel's board of directors and former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who joined the Reagan administration from Bechtel, was a former general counsel and director.
In a robust statement issued shortly after the contract was awarded, Bechtel said: "Over the years, we have certainly built good relationships with important people. We network like anyone in business or the professions. Bechtel executives have been international industry leaders for decades. Industry leaders know political leaders, the people who formulate development plans, control budgets, set the rules for contractors to enter and operate in their countries, examine credentials, authorize contracts, and pay the bills for services rendered."
Any other conclusion, said Bechtel, was either "specious or irrelevant".
The company added: "Journalists have a responsibility to assess the credibility of claims rather than uncritically reporting innuendo from partisan organizations and political critics."
Elsewhere it has been reported that the General Accountancy Office and USAID's Office of Inspector General is to review Iraq contract awards following criticisms that the US was monopolising the process.
(GMcG)
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