Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki appealed today to South Korea's government and businesses to join reconstruction projects in his country, reported the Associated Press. «The door to Iraq is wide open and we are waiting for you,» Al-Maliki said at a meeting with South Korean business leaders. «I sincerely hope South Korea will join other countries in helping our country.» «Iraq has a lot of potential to become an advanced country like other countries in the future,» al-Maliki noted. In a meeting with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Al-Maliki said he wanted South Korean companies to participate in development of oil fields, restoration of electricity facilities and reconstruction of factories, Roh's office said in a statement. The leaders agreed to strengthen their countries' economic ties, the statement said. «I expect our cooperation will greatly expand in various sectors such as energy, construction, (information technology) and education,» Roh said. Al-Maliki arrived in Seoul on yesterday after a stop in Japan, where he signed loan agreements for reconstruction projects in Iraq. South Korea has about 1,300 troops in Iraq on a reconstruction mission. Trade between the two countries totaled just over US$1 billion in 2006 and consisted mostly of South Korean imports of Iraqi oil. -- SPA
