Civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has won its first international contracts with appointments on a major highway scheme and building project in Kurdistan.
The company has secured work in the area as part of a major infrastructure development programme in the region.
BSP has been appointed by the Ministry of Culture as checking engineer for a new theatre in the capital, Erbil. Work is due to get underway on site on the Holi Gel theatre project shortly.
The firm has also been appointed to provide project management services on a road scheme in the region’s second city, Slemani. Work on the 40 km dual carriageway, between the towns of Dukan and Chwarqurna, features a number of bridges and is expected to take two years.
BSP, which has its headquarters at Oxford Street, Nottingham, and branches in Derby, Leicester and Sheffield, now has two engineers in Kurdistan who are overseeing the work.
“For a while we have been looking at opportunities in the Middle East in places like Abu Dhabi and more recently Kurdistan, and we are very pleased to have secured these two contracts,” said BSP managing director David Sumner.
“The downturn in the UK construction sector gave us the chance to fully explore areas overseas that were looking for British expertise. Our investment in this over the past few years is now coming to fruition, and we hope that further opportunities will be forthcoming.”
Representatives from BSP have travelled to the Middle East on a number of occasions for a series of meetings and trade exhibitions ahead of securing the work.
The contracts mark the first overseas developments undertaken by BSP.
“Since forming almost 15 years ago, we have gradually expanded as a company and we now cover the whole of the UK. The recently won work in Kurdistan is our first international development, however,” added David.
As an oil-rich region, Kurdistan is investing heavily in infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, schools, housing and cultural amenities. The Kurdistan Regional Government has a large spending programme underway which involves major public schemes.
BSP is now registered to operate in the region, which is part of Iraq, and hopes to be involved in additional projects in the future, said David.
