Iraq plans to launch reconstruction projects worth US$300 billion in the next five years and hopes South Korean companies will take part in all of them, the country's prime minister was quoted Sunday as saying.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made the remark during a meeting inBaghdadwithSouth Korea's visiting National Assembly speaker Kang Chang-hee on Saturday, according to Kang's spokesman Bae Sung-rye.

Should the Iraqi government giveSouth Koreagreater opportunities to participate in the country's reconstruction efforts,South Koreais willing to share its development experience with the Middle Eastern nation, Kang said, according to the spokesman.

Maliki was also quoted as telling Kang that the Iraqi people have favorable views ofSouth Koreathanks to the country's troop dispatch to the country and that security problems inIraqhave made big improvements.

Kang saidSouth Koreaimports about $10 billion worth of crude oil fromIraq, and thatSouth Korea's development experience andIraq's rich natural resources will make them a "win-win" economic cooperation partner to each other, according to Bae.

Kang also invited Maliki to visitSouth Korea.

Iraqwas the last leg of Kang's four-nation trip that already took him toKenya,TanzaniaandEthiopia.



Soran Ali