The ABG Serco centre is imminently reaching the final stage of completion. The main construction phase of the centre has now been finished and workers are now making the final touches prior to Serco ATC (Air Traffic Control) employees taking residence in the centre. The work commenced at the start of 2011 with an aim to complete the facility by the first week of June. The centre has been built as part of ABG’s contract with Serco and the Iraqi Ministry of Transport to run an ATC system for the whole of Iraq.

The centre consists of 92 en-suite rooms equipped with Wi-Fi internet access, Satellite television and full domestic services. The construction of the two-storey building provides the centre-piece of the compound; it contains the dinning hall, conference rooms as well as the main administrative offices. The centre is fully self-sufficient in terms of power and water provided by dedicated generators and pumps on-site. With the safety and security of Serco personnel being a primary concern; the centre is fully covered by CCTV cameras, biometric access system and concrete perimeter walls.

Since the ATC operators will be running an ‘on/off’ rotating shift; they will require peace and quiet during their rest periods. They are running critical aircraft management systems and therefore their safety and well being is of utmost importance. Therefore ABG and Serco have taken great strides to ensure the well being of their staff. For example the fully equipped gym will allow staff to exercise and maintain their physical well-being to ensure that they carry out their work to the highest standards. In addition, the level and quality of catering services will be very high as expected by Serco’s highly trained staff.

The centre will be officially opened and handed over to Serco employees at the end of May. A planned opening ceremony will honour the key individuals responsible for executing the contract as well as the construction of the centre and its facilities. It is expected that several high-level representatives from Serco, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority and the Iraqi government will be present to celebrate the opening.

ABG aims to build on these successful project executions with several future deals of similar proportions. Business activity is expanding tremendously throughout Iraq with a massive demand for high quality accommodation to serve the companies helping build Iraq’s infrastructure and service systems.