ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A giant livestock project is set to be opened in the Kurdistan Region capital city Erbil on Sunday after three years of construction works, said an official, adding it will create around 1,000 jobs.
The Megal (herd) Project has been constructed on a million square meters of land, and has the capacity to slaughter 3,000 sheep and 400 goats per hour, applying world standards, said Bargasht Akraiy, spokesperson of the Board of Investment.
"There are a number of factories in the project, including for repairing animal feet, storing and tanning animal skins, cleaning the stomach and intestines," Akraiy added.
The project is located on the Erbil-Gwer road, an estimated 20 kilometers from the city center. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
"The project has been constructed at the cost of $100 million," Akraiy said.
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"It will become a modern trade center for importing, exporting, selling, and buying sheep, goats, and cattle, not just in Kurdistan, but to the entire Iraq" he said.
The investment board spokesperson said the Megal Project will create an estimated 1,000 jobs.
"All health and environmental requirements have been taken into account in the project," he said.
The Kurdish market is highly reliant on Iranian and Syrian animals. It also relies on foreign dairy products to meet the local demand.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has identified agriculture as a sector it wants to develop as part of efforts to diversify the economy, rather than merely relying on oil revenues.