Iraq accepts 22,000 tonne Indian wheat

New Delhi,Monday, February 10, 2003: The 20-month-old Indo-Iraq stalemate over the quality of wheat exported has been resolved with the clearance given to a 22,000 tonne Indian cargo, opening up a 36-lakh tonne annual market for the country.Buoyed by the bright prospects for Indian wheat exports to Iraq, export houses including the State Trading Corporation have bid to sell another 10-lakh tonnes to the west Asian country.

"The Quality of the cargo sent two weeks ago has been approved but the formal letter of acceptance is yet to be issued, nevertheless we consider it a major breakthrough in our plans of tapping and exploring new markets for Indian wheat," official sources said. They said a formal announcement to this effect can be made only after the letter of confirmation is received by the concerned trading company from the Grain Board of Iraq. They said the cargo belonging to a private trading firm Priyanka Overseas and part of the six lakh tonne pending Indian contracts under UN's oil-for-food programme for Iraq belonging to a private trading firm Priyanka Overseas had to undergo stringent chemical, biological and bacterial tests before getting the clearance.

When queried over the logistical constraints which may delay execution of the six-lakh tonne contracts, official sources said the issue is being looked at the highest level and some solution will be found to everybody's satisfaction. India is serious over the issue of wheat exports to Iraq where the price fetched from the pending contracts is a lucrative 203 dollars a tonne Cost, Insurance and Freight. - keralamonitor.com

No plans to close Kuwait schools

KUWAIT's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah revealed that mid-year school holidays have not been changed due to the situation in the region. Speaking to reporters after seeing off the President of Philippines Gloria Arroyo, Sheikh Sabah said, "we do not think and have not thought" about closing schools due to the possibility of a war on Iraq. Asked on the announcement by some US schools they will take a six-week holiday, he said, "they asked for it ... we, in Kuwait, have not asked for closing schools."He asserted that schools will continue their courses as usual according to the Education Ministry's timetables, said the official news agency. -keralamonitor.com