PM encourages Iraq investment

28 April 2008

Gordon Brown has held a reception in Downing Street aimed at encouraging companies and industry to invest in Iraq.

Speaking to UK business leaders and members of the Basra Development Commission inside Number 10, the PM said that rebuilding the economy of Basra and Iraq was "one of the great ventures of our time" and that he believed people could be shown that "peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand".

Mr Brown acknowledged there was a "huge amount of redevelopment" to take place but said that by working together Iraqis and British investors could make a "huge difference".

Charles Duff, of Coffey International Development, added that the situation in Basra has "improved enormously" in recent weeks and that "the time is coming for investment to be a real possibility".

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