Details about the contract signed with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil will be released on Thursday.

Czech exports to Iraq have have quadrupled since 2003, and last year totalled $20.9m (Kc445m), up from $17m (Kc360m) in 2005.

"In 2005 and 2006 53 Czech companies exported their products to Iraq," Adriana Rajmova of the Industry and Trade Ministry press department told CTK.

Inekon Group last year signed a contract for the construction of a cement works in northern Iraq for EUR328m (Kc9.2bn) with daily output of 6,000 tonnes of cement, for example.

Prokop Engineering Brno recently signed a contract for the supply of technology for $40m (Kc854m) to Midland Refineries Company.

Because of the frequent outbreaks of violence in Iraq Czech companies" activities have now concentrated in the north of the country, said Dagmar Kuchtova of the Czech Confederation of Industry.

PIN/PRAGUEMONITOR.COM