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30th August, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies have been invited to invest and participate in the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq, especially in the electricity, housing, transportation and health sectors.
Iraq’s newly-appointed Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Amal Mussa Hussain Ali Al-Rubaye said the country’s infrastructures were destroyed by wars and acts of terrorism.
She said many big buildings which housed ministries and hospitals were blown up, adding that the last phase of housing apartments was built between 1983 and 1986.
“Then, Iraq stopped building hospitals, houses, ministries…so, now we have a great demand to build them,” she told Bernama in a recent interview here.
Dr Amal, 52, a former deputy chairman of the Advisory Commission at the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, said her country wanted to further strengthen its bilateral ties with Malaysia in every field.
“Historically, we have enjoyed brotherly and friendly relations for a very long period. We have an agreement signed in 1977 between both countries in oil and gas,” she said.
Currently, one of Malaysia’s biggest investors in Iraq is Petronas.
In January, Iraq approved a deal by a Shell-Petronas-led consortium to develop the 12.5 billion barrel Majnoon oil field, marking a crucial step towards its post-war rebuilding.
Dr Amal also said that Iraq was considering cooperating with Malaysia in the transport field through its National Shipping Company.
“Exporters can use the dry canal, which is crossing Iraq not by ship but lorries, and send things to Europe, either through Syria or Turkey.
“We have prepared the dry way and it’s ready. If we cooperate with Malaysian companies, we will control the transportation of all trade from South Asia to Europe,” she noted.
Dr Amal said that Iraq was also looking at working with Malaysia in the field of education, adding that currently, there were about 5,000 Iraqis living in Malaysia, including 1,750 university students.
“You have many universities…Malaysia is much respected by the Muslims and Eastern countries. This October, Iraq’s minister of education will visit Malaysia,” said the ambassador who hoped that both countries could have exchange of visits at the highest level of leadership in the future.
“Such visits will lead to signing of memoranda of understanding and this will lead to signing contracts,” she said.
To attract foreign investments into Iraq, the pediatrician-turned-diplomat said generous benefits, guarantees and exemptions were laid out under Iraqi investment laws.
“We offer a lot for investments and we have set up the Iraqi National Investment Commission that gives many privileges to people who invest in Iraq, she said, adding that bilateral ties between both countries could be further strengthened if Malaysia re-opened its embassy in Baghdad and had direct flights to the country.
She said, after the last war, most foreign countries re-opened their embassies, including the United States, Britain, France, Holland, Middle East countries and South Asia, but Malaysia had yet to do so.
“Another, is to have direct flights between Malaysia and Iraq which could benefit South East Asia, and not just Malaysia. Malaysia will also be the centre for transit for all neighbouring countries,” she said.
On the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Dr Amal said the concept was good for the country due to its multi-racial and multi-religious population.
The ambassador assures everyone that the country was on the right track to peace and stability, despite reports of daily bombings and high casualties.
“Before 2006, in Baghdad especially, people could not leave their homes at night…the city was dead but after reconciliation, you can go freely alone anywhere,” she said.
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