Iraqi minister seeks to soothe investor jitters (privatization propaganda) [View All]

[UpInArms]

http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2004/02/25/rtr1275800.html

By Sue Pleming

ARLINGTON,Va. (Reuters) - Iraq's public works minister sought Wednesday to soothe investor jitters over the transition from U.S. occupation to the Iraqis and tried to play down the security risk.

Speaking at an Iraq reconstruction conference attended by more than 500 company representatives, Iraqi Public Works Minister Nasreen Barwari said she expected the transition on June 30 to be smooth and urged companies to come to Baghdad.

"We need the contribution of the private sector," she said in response to a question from Microsoft about the transition and how it would affect businesses.

She said a new government would embrace the same free market principles familiar to U.S. and other firms and the finance ministry was busy finalizing new laws and regulations to assist foreign investors in Iraq.

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