SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Construction giant Bechtel Corp. said on Wednesday it plans to employ 25,000 Iraqis, mostly through subcontractors, for infrastructure projects throughout the war-ravaged country.

"That's the way to get the (Iraqi) economy moving again," said Bechtel spokeswoman Valerie Kazanjian, noting the 25,000-strong work force will be employed throughout Iraq.

Bechtel in April won a contract from the United States Agency for International Development worth up to $680 million over 18 months as part of the U.S.-led effort to rebuild critical infrastructure throughout Iraq.

The San Francisco-based company's projects in Iraq include repairing 28 water facilities and nine sewage plants. Privately held Bechtel also is repairing a fresh-water canal, 1,300 schools and clinics, and airports in Baghdad and Basra.

Additionally, the company is repairing a seaport and upgrading Iraq's telephone and electrical systems.

Bechtel last week completed its first project in Iraq, a 3-km (1.86 mile), four-lane bridge bypass on a major highway in western Iraq. The bypass was largely finished by subcontractor Al-Bunnia Trading Co. of Baghdad, according to Bechtel, which has said it seeks to subcontract at least half of its work in Iraq to Iraqi firms.

Bechtel told Reuters on Wednesday that of 49 subcontracts it has awarded for work in Iraq, 18 of have gone to Iraqi companies. Bechtel also has contracted with British and U.S. companies, including Lockheed Martin Corp., Motorola Inc. and London-based Olive Security, for work in Iraq.