PM says Iraq seeks upping oil, gas proceeds to cover investments

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Friday that his government was keen on accelerating reconstruction in association with Iraqi and foreign companies. “There are drives to maximize oil and gas proceeds to cover investments in other sectors,” Maliki said in a speech during a symposium organized by the Australian trade foundation. A statement by Maliki’s office received by IraqiNews.com news agency said the event was organized in association with the Australian-Arab Chamber of Commerce, attended by a large host of Arab and Australian entrepreneurs and corporate CEOs. “There are to main tasks facing the reconstruction process: repairing whatever was destroyed by wars and developing services,” the statement quoted Maliki as saying. AmR (P) 1