Iraq is to open its oil and gas industry to foreign investment, which could mean local areas benefit from training.

On Monday, officials met to discuss the rules that would determine what foreign energy companies would be allowed to do in taking advantage of Iraq's oil and gas supply.

Hussain al-Shahristani, Iraq's oil minister, commented that foreign investment was required to "fast-track" the country's potential.

Natik al-Bayati, director general of Iraq's Oil Ministry, commented: "This is a very important milestone in the history of the Iraqi oil industry."

The country has the world's third largest oil reserves as well as 115 billion barrels of oil reserves.

Foreign investment could mean that local communities receive oil and gas training from the foreign investors if and when they choose to work in Iraq.

Those fields open for bidding include the Bai Hassan, Rumaila, Kirkuk, Zubair and West Qurna Stage-1 oil and gas fields as well as the three Missan oil fields.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development