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Article: The UK fights for a bigger slice: former UK energy minister Brian Wilson is the newly appointed special representative of Prime Minister Tony Blair for Iraqi reconstruction. He talks to Andy Critchlow about what British business can expect from the reconstruction programme in light of London's staunch support for the US-led coalition.(Interview: Brian Wilson)(Interview)(Industry Overview)
- Article from:
- MEED Middle East Economic Digest
- Article date:
- January 30, 2004
- Author:
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Is it fair to say that UK companies have failed to capitalise on reconstruction given the strong support offered throughout by the government to the US-led coalition and the large UK military presence in Iraq?
Wilson: Our view is that British companies have a lot to offer reconstruction on merit alone and not as a matter of right earned from our involvement in the war and support for the coalition. The first question I asked when I took this job was whether there were any specific understandings regarding British commercial interests in Iraq after the war. The straightforward answer to that question is no and that can either be interpreted as naivety and a lack ...