Minister underlines British investments in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaydi on Sunday stressed the importance of British companies’ accession to the Iraqi market for investment in the sectors of energy and projects of water, roads and construction of hospitals, hotels and housing compounds, according to a ministry release. The government “needs to create as many job opportunities as it can in a country where unemployment hits 20%,” the release quoted Zubaydi in statements after a meeting with Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, a member of the British House of Lords. He said that Iraq’s government and private banking sectors are receiving good attention from the finance ministry and seeking to attain the highest benefit from training courses held by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for workers in those sectors. “The advancement of these sectors should help upgrade the country’s banking status, which would positively affect investment,” Zubaydi added. The minister’s meeting with Baroness Nicholson was attended by Industry Minister Fawzi Hariri, Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) Governor Sannan al-Shibi, Iraqi National Investment Commission (INIC) Sami al-Aaraji and a host of British and Iraqi businessmen. AmR (P)/SR 1