$14b appropriated for investment budget – minister

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaydi revealed on Sunday that more than $14 billion was appropriated for the investment budget this year despite the global financial crisis and the decrease in oil prices. “The 2009 budget is in its final stages at the parliament for adoption and referral to the Presidential Board (PB),” a press release quoted Zubaydi’s statements during a meeting with a delegation from the European Union as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Zubaydi stressed the importance of European firms to work in Iraq in all economic and urban domains including the construction of hospitals, rehabilitation of power stations, oil and housing. AmR (P)/SR 1