">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Iraqi VP calls for wise economic policy amid woes
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Iraqi VP calls for wise economic policy amid woes
By HAMID AHMED,Associated Press Writer AP - Monday, March 23
BAGHDAD - Iraq's Sunni vice president appealed Sunday for a "suitable recipe" to help transform his country's "unbalanced" economy, joining other government officials in sounding the alarm over the nation's finances.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tariq al-Hashemi said a number of crises _ "some inherited from the previous regime and others as a result to the 2003 invasion" _ are hurting the country's chances for economic development as it emerges from years of war.
Al-Hashemi blamed Iraq's oil-dependent economy and reliance on imports on decades of war and poor economic policies in addition to political instability, violence and corruption that have left sectors such as agriculture idled.
The country's economy will suffer further as chances for attracting foreign investment are "likely to diminish in light of the current world economic crisis ... and with the scarcity in the international donations and aid," he warned.
"A wise economic policy suitable to face the expected economic challenges for this year and for years to come is needed," he said during an address at a three-day economic forum that opened Sunday in Baghdad.
Alarmed by plummeting oil prices, Iraqi officials have been scrambling since early this year to solicit outside help and find ways to diversify the economy.
Iraq, which holds the world's third-largest known oil reserves of at least 115 billion barrels, is suffering a financial squeeze as prices plummeted about 65 percent from a summertime peak of about $150.
Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of state revenues.
Iraq's parliament passed a $58.6 billion budget earlier this month _ a sharp reduction from the original $79 billion spending plan.
To increase production, the Oil Ministry has recently issued tenders to drill more than 50 new wells in a number of oil fields in the south as part of an accelerated plan to add 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day to the current production of about 2.4 million barrels per day by the end of 2010.
Last year, Iraq also offered 19 oil and gas fields to international companies for development in two major bidding rounds, which are to be finalized later this year.
But al-Hashemi cautioned the ambitious plans will take time.
"Oil production is not expected to increase in the short coming period as this sector needs rehabilitation and good management with expertise and modern technology," he said.
___
Associated Press Writer Sinan Salaheddin contributed to this report.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: World
US pursues charges in 2007 attack in IraqAP - Monday, March 23
US to publish torture details: reportAFP - Monday, March 23
AP IMPACT: Mentally ill a threat in nursing homesAP - Monday, March 23
More women needing cash go from jobless to toplessAP - Monday, March 23
Michigan 15-year-old dies after police Taser himAP - Monday, March 23
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Prince Charles blue over green crusade
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
Madoff loses bail appeal as victims' rage revealed
Opel boss hints at closing German plants
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 23 March 2009 U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged
| International
|
Guatemala to open mass grave in search for war dead
| International
|
Czech government MP will push to topple government on Tues
| International
|
Knowing tops weekend box office
| Entertainment
|
U.S. to put exit strategy in Afghanistan policy
| International
|
In Afghanistan, US military's `Help Wanted' sign
Riot shows desperate Tibetans may defy security
| International
|
Netanyahu recruits Shas party for Israel coalition
| International
|
U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged
Mumbai attack trial begins, gunman says from Pakistan
| International
|
NATO soldier dies in Afghanistan
Professor takes lead after peaceful Macedonia vote
| International
|
British reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
US-led raid kills five Afghan civilians: officials
U.S. says Iraqi prisoners to be freed or charged
| International
|
Iran sets terms for U.S. ties
Global downturn threatens Cambodian garment success
| International
|
Iraqi VP calls for wise economic policy amid woes
FedEx plane crashes on landing in Tokyo, two dead
| International
|
Skype targets corporate market: report
| Technology
|
US pursues charges in 2007 attack in Iraq
Poland hopes U.S. will not let it down on shield
UK reality TV star dies of cancer amid media blitz
| Entertainment
|
Fox wants more of Gordon Ramsay
| Entertainment
|
Pakistani leaders reconcile as top judge reinstated
Japanese military assumes more global role
Seven hurt in Philippines blast: police
More than 1,100 civilians escape S.Lanka war zone
7 militants get life terms for Bangladesh bombings
US, disputing Afghans, says raid killed militants
Japan's economy 'needs big stimulus'
Natasha Richardson buried near upstate NY home
Reality TV star Jade Goody dies of cancer
"Knowing" tops box office
Acts twitter at SXSW, in interviews and on stage
Sci-fi thriller "Knowing" tops weekend box office
Taliban kill eight Afghan police: commander
US Afghan plan must have 'exit strategy': Obama
Lebanon bomb kills senior Fatah official, 4 others
| International
|
Israel, Hamas say talks on prisoner swap not over
U.S. sought ex-Guantanamo detainee's silence: court
| International
|
US to spend 500 bln to clean toxic assets
Madagascar leader's opponents launch protests
| International
|
Government won't take all the risk: Geithner
ECB's Trichet: no more stimulus spending needed
Obama warns of collapse if big institution fails
UAE investment fund takes 9.1 pct stake in Daimler
Sudan's Bashir visits Eritrea despite ICC warrant
| International
|
WTO's Lamy presses U.S. as world trade tumbles
| International
|
Kids among 17 killed in US plane crash
Nokia drops N73 model from gaming service plans
| Technology
|
Obama team sees U.S. rebound this year
The Nano, world's cheapest car, to hit Indian roads
| Technology
|
Under Obama, US drops hostility to ICC: experts
Japan robot model no challenge yet to human rivals
| Technology
|
US stimulus money fuels 'smart' power grid surge
US to publish torture details: report
Russia region chief quits after ruling party row
Auschwitz museum struggles to preserve site
Knowing tops weekend box office
| Entertainment
|
Sopranos star Gandolfini a hit on Broadway
| Entertainment
|
Australia's Big Pineapple wins heritage listing
Harrison Ford proposes to Calista Flockhart: People
| Entertainment
|
NKorea's 'thin Kim' triples public activities
Taiwan fires pro-China official
Tibet protest sparked by row over flag: exiles
Troops patrolling Tibetan town in northwest China
Indonesian zoo welcomes 32 newborn Komodo dragons
Four Bangladesh 'mutineers' die in custody
Philippine general takes leave during hostage crisis
Hip-hop group N.E.R.D. a no-show in Indonesia
Mitsubishi UFJ to cut 1,000 jobs, close 50 branches
Japan ship shot at off Somalia
US Treasuries still key to China investment plan
Seoul shares hit 6-wk closing high as banks rally
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
FACTBOX-S.Korea govt, party agree on $13 bln new spending
Chinese massacre movies clear censors
Japanese business confidence at new low: survey
Big news year boosts `60 Minutes'
S.Korea lenders mulling private bad bank in April
'God of Carnage' hilariously trashes civility
Seoul shares up as financials rise on US bank hopes
SXSW ends as buzz grows for bands who impressed
India's Tata Motors to launch $2,000 Nano
Harrison Ford proposes to Calista Flockhart: People
Minister: China still welcomes foreign investment
China to be flexible at Doha talks: state media
Kidnapper recruits victims in Indonesia vote
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights