Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki expressed hope Monday that Japanese corporations will invest in oil and infrastructure development in Iraq, playing down security concerns in the country.
"I think the various experiences and skills Japanese businesses have will be able to contribute to reconstruction of oil facilities and basic infrastructure" that sustained damage during the 2003 Iraq War, al-Maliki, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, said in an interview.
"I hope Japanese companies will make inroads in Iraq before it's too late," as companies from some other countries are already operating there, he said.