Iraq fair opens in Baghdad

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraq International Fair, where 150 private sector companies from 16 Arab and foreign countries, was opened in Baghdad on Monday. “The debts, heavy compensations, devastated infrastructure and corruption that Iraq is groaning under have stimulated us to confront hardships,” Iraqi Minister of Trade Abdelfalah al-Sudani said in a speech during the inauguration ceremonies attended by several ministers and government officials. “The year 2008 is one of reconstruction,” said Sudani, expressing hope that the exhibition, held under the auspices of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, would turn into a trade center in the years to come. AmR (P) 1