WORLD TRADE CENTERS

Location: Iraq

Iraq, in an area once home to some of the earliest civilizations, straddles the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and stretches from the Gulf to the Anti-Taurus Mountains.  Modern Iraq occupies roughly what was once ancient Mesopotamia, one of the cradles of human civilization.  Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I.  In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932.

Official name: Republic of Iraq
Population: 38,146,025 (July 2016 est.)
Area: 438,317 sq km (169,235 sq miles)
Capital: Baghdad
Major languages: Arabic, Kurdish
Major religion: Islam

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. An improving security environment and foreign investment are helping to spur economic activity, particularly in the energy, construction, and retail sectors.

GDP: $156.3 billion (2015 est.)

GDP by Sector: Agriculture: 5.7%, Industry: 45.1%, Services: 49.3% (2016 est.)

Exports: $44.67 billion (2016 est.)

Main Exports: Crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals.

Imports: $43.27 billion (2016 est.)

Main Imports: Food, medicine, manufacturing.

World Trade Centers Holdings Cyprus holds the license for Basra, which is Iraq's second largest and most populous city after Baghdad.  It is Iraq's main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is handled at the port of Umm Qasr.  Basra is in a fertile agricultural region, with major products including rice, maize corn, barley, pearl millet, wheat, dates, and livestock.  Basra has many dazzling shop fronts, rampant neon lights and streets teeming with shoppers and revelers which reveal a city that is embracing change.