Iraq's new interim government will give priority to companies from Arab countries when awarding contracts for reconstruction work, Iraqi Housing and Construction Minister Omar al-Damluji said on Sunday.
Damluji arrived in Cairo from Lebanon on Sunday for talks with Egyptian government and company officials about their possible participation in Iraq's reconstruction programme.
"We will give Egyptian and Arab companies priority to carry out reconstruction contracts in Iraq as part of our desire to co-operate with any state in this field," he told reporters.
Iraq's interim government will also place a priority on employing Iraqi workers to reduce unemployment, he added.
Egyptian companies, with the exception of mobile phone operator Orascom Telecom, have been reluctant to participate in Iraq's reconstruction, citing uncertainty about the status of Iraq's Governing Council, which dissolved itself on June 1.
The Egyptian government has not yet established full diplomatic relations with the interim government, which took the council's place.
Officials say Egypt is waiting to see what happens on and after June 30, the date set by the United States for the planned handover to the interim government.
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