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India to Saddam: ‘Power to You’
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
By Manu Joseph

India faces a lot of competition from European and Chinese firms, but to a great extent "historical ties" -- as the Iraqi power minister called it -- between the two nations have helped.

MUMBAI, India -- Source
India is one of the most willing and ready partners in America's war against terror, but in matters of world trade the world's largest democracy refuses to take its cues from Washington.

While America considers Iraq a terrorist state, India's traditionally good relations with the Arab nation has contributed to its becoming the largest exporter of electrical equipment to Iraq.

Of the $750 million that Iraq has doled out for its electrical needs during the past three years, India has raked in $350 million of it, a figure that figures to double if Iraq has its way. When Sahbaan Mahjoob, the Iraqi minister for the Commission of Electricity, visited India post-Sept. 11, he said that he was hoping for Indian exports of up to $700 million in the next two years.

"There is a large trade potential as Iraq is rebuilding its power generation plants," Mahjoob said. Fifty percent of all Indian exports to Iraq involve power generation plants and electrical equipment. Still, there's room to grow. About 400 large- and medium-sized Indian electrical companies, members of the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA), produce over $8 billion worth of equipment and goods every year.
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