March 4: The Iraqi Transport Minister Amir Abdiljabbar said that the 
will be a source of employment for thousands of people in the province. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the airport, the minister said that Iraqi will have every reason to be proud of the airport once it is completed.
Giving out details of the design and costs, Abdiljabbar said a French firm had designed the airport at a cost of E50 million. Furthermore, the airport will have a capacity of 30 million passengers a year and will be dealt with like an investment project.
