Iraq throws open doors to US firms as army exits
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki issued an open invitation for US firms to help rebuild Iraq on Tuesday, as his oil-rich nation closes the door on a nearly nine-year American military presence.
Hailing a new phase in the country's history, Maliki declared the long war-scarred nation was ready to build a new economy that held "limitless" opportunities for US firms.
"It is not now the generals but the businessmen and the corporations that are at the forefront" of Iraq's future, he told a business gathering just steps from the White House.
"Circumstances have improved because of better security," said Maliki, playing the role of salesman-in-chief for an economy that was ravaged by authoritarian rule and multilateral sanctions even before the war began in 2003.
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