Iraq is keen to acquire Malaysian national car Proton under the next phase of its oil-for-food program, visiting Trade Minister Mohammad Mehdi Saleh said Thursday.
Iraq, which has imported some 500 million dollars worth of products from Malaysia under the program so far, wants to deepen bilateral trade and economic relations, he told reporters following talks with his Malaysian counterpart Rafidah Aziz.
"We agreed to expand cooperation," he said. "We are diverting our relationship to be more active, more close to this country and the market here."
Iraq is also looking to buy food supplies, medicine and medical equipment, as well as industrial products such as timber and steel for its construction needs from Malaysia, he added.
Saleh said Iraq, which earlier this week accepted the renewal of the UN oil-for-food accord for another six months, was making preparations to submit contract applications and would "start to buy in a few weeks' time."
Under the ninth phase of the program, he said the government would focus on projects to overcome electricity shortage, water contamination and sewerage problems,as well as developing its agriculture, telecommunication and education sectors.
He said oil prices would dictate the volume of exports in the new phase, but added that the country "normally (sells) 2.5 million barrels a day."
Saleh, who arrived here earlier Thursday for a four-day visit, will meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar during his trip.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached 16.2 million dollars in the first 10 months of this year, with margarine and shortening making up the bulk of Malaysian exports to Iraq -- KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)
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