The Iraqi Grain Board is planning to launch a buy tender for 100,000 tonnes of hard wheat next month, the body's Chairman Mohommad Nezer said on Wednesday.
"We plan to issue a tender for 100,000 tonnes of hard wheat next month, for arrival in August," Nezer told reporters at the sidelines of the International Grains Council annual conference in London.
Nezer said Iraq's domestic requirements amounted to 2.5 million tonnes of hard wheat and one million tonnes of rice.
Domestic wheat production in 2004/05, he said, would amount to one million tonnes.
Nezer said "three of four" buy tenders may be issued for its annual wheat needs but added that because Iraq had "some stocks" it could change the timing of those purchase requests at any time.
Addressing delegates earlier, Nezer said Iraq was open for discussion with all suppliers of grain and rice.
"If suppliers can develop a reputation for quality, price and timing of delivery, they will do well," Nezer said. "We want to tell suppliers that the Iraqi market is very open and available," he added.
Nezer also told reporters that Iraq would be interested in seeking future investment in grain infrastructure to boost and improve its current grain storage capacity of 1.5 million tonnes.
The Iraqi Grains Board has taken over purchasing food such as wheat, sugar and rice from the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), which was contracted by Iraq's US-led occupation authorities to buy food on behalf of Iraq after the war.