Crown Agents first worked for Iraq more than eighty years ago and our assistance continued beyond its becoming an independent sovereign state in 1932. Our engineers, for example, helped to design locomotives and rolling stock for the final link in the standard gauge railway from the Syrian frontier and Baiji, south of Mosul, which permitted through traffic from Istanbul to Baghdad.
We set up a permanent office in Baghdad's International Zone in 2003 to support our donor-funded humanitarian and reconstruction work. We operate in partnership with our donor clients and Iraqi partners, and alongside other international development stakeholders. Our Iraqi staff perform an essential role in delivering our services throughout the country.
Crown Agents works with bilateral and multilateral donors on emergency assistance projects to helped to build capacity and institutional sustainability as Iraq moves into its next phase of transition. We have helped to procure, deliver and install equipment for the health, power and municipal sectors to improve the living standards of the Iraqi people. We also provide technical assistance to strengthen key public sector institutions. We have supported two of the largest international bilateral donors by providing essential support services to enable them to carry out their work.
We work with our Amman, Jordan office, supported by our global resources and local partners, to help achieve Iraq's lasting stability.