In the largest Iraqi investment so far here, two Iraqi brothers opened a $500,000 retail mall at this remote logistics base in northern Iraq, July 28.

The Al Rwad Mall is not the first of its kind here — there are several Turkish-owned shopping centers on the base — but it is the first Iraqi-owned and operated mall on the base.

“Through a coordinated effort, the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone retail section, along with brothers Nibras and Mustafa Khudir, were able to accomplish opening a large Iraqi-owned shopping center that will surely provide services for American Soldiers and Iraqi forces into the future,” said Capt. Allen Legere, officer in charge, IBIZ retail section, 2nd Battalion, 198th Combined Arms, 16th Sustainment Brigade.

The mall, located at the corner of 8th Street and Indiana Avenue on Q-West, consists of an electronics store, a carpet store, an antique and souvenir shop, an athletic apparel store, a clothing boutique, a barber shop and salon, a free internet café for Soldiers, a gift shop, and a snack shop.

The brothers plan to add a bicycle repair and sales shop, a muscle therapy salon, and a coffee and beverage area around the shopping center, and said they plan to offer outdoor movie nights on their terrace.

Nibras Khudir, who runs Al Rwad in Irbil, Iraq, said he opened the branch on base because he supports the U.S. Soldiers in Iraq.

“Frankly, I’d like to help the U.S. Army and help the U.S. Soldiers,” Nibras said, through his brother, who translated. The venture is not the first for Nibras at Q-West. He also ran a small internet concession on the base.

“The Al Rwad Shopping Center is the largest Iraqi-owned facility on Q-West,” said Legere. “And it has provided numerous jobs for local Iraqi’s wanting to work and contribute to their own villages. Since many of the workers live in the surrounding villages, the center helps provide economic growth and stability to the local area surrounding Q-West.”

The business also reflected the growing solidarity in a country once divided along sectarian lines. Nibras pointed out that he had hired people of many different backgrounds, including Arabs, Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds and Turkomen to work at his center.

Legere said the opening of the business is good for Soldiers.

“As the IBIZ retail OIC (officer in charge), I have heard a lot of talk by the other vendors about updating their stores and offering better services and prices to the Soldiers and civilians living and working on base,” Legere said. “The opening of a new shopping center of this size will allow customers to shop at more competitive prices.”

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Story by Sgt. Keith Anderson