Iraq signs 5 agreements with France to develop its infrastructure

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Oil Ministry has announced on Monday the conclusion of five agreements with France to develop its infrastructure in the fields of oil, agriculture, investment, trade, insurance and electricity. Oil Minister, Hussein al-Shahrestani, stated after the signing of the agreements that they “aim at boosting trade and exchange and cooperation in the fields of energy and industry, as well as the activation of trade between the two sides.” “The conclusion of such agreements will positively reflect on the current situation and the future of our country, in such a way that achieves bilateral benefit for both countries,” he said. An Oil Ministry statement said in a statement, copy of which was received by Iraqi News News Agency, that “a joint high Iraqi-French Committee, led by Oil Minister, Hussein al-Shahristani, had concluded five agreements related to the fields of energy, agriculture, industry, investment and services.”Iraq‘s Oil Minister Shahrestani, Trade Minister Safuddin al-Safi, Agriculture Ministe Akram Abdul-Hamid, as well as Finance Minister Bayan Jabur Solagh, have signed the agreements with the French Trade Minister and Chairwoman of the High Joint Commmitte for the French side, An Mary Edrack, the agreements planned in the Joint High Committee’s first meeting.” The French Trade Minister, authorized to sign the agreements with Iraq, on her part said: “the signing of the agreements has registered an unprecedented occasion in the history of European countries, as France is considered the first European country that signs cooperation agreements with Iraq in different fields.” “We are working to develop relations with Iraq, especially in the economic and trade fields..And, in our current visit, we have presented an offer to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity for cooperation in electrical stations field, as well as oil cooperation in the field of building refineries, along with trade cooperation,” she said. The French Minister pointed out that her country “has decided to open a large pavilion in Baghdad International Fair, comprising 40 French companies, saying: “Our participation in the Fair this year differs from previous years, because we have full wish for joint cooperation.” Meanwhile, the Spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Mininstry, Assim Jehad, said the above meeting “is considered the second of irts type, as the first meeting was held in Paris last year, that put the main lines for cooperation between the two countries,” pointing out that France “has played a great role on the international level, due to the high and special goodwill of its companies.” SKH 3