Finance minister, French envoy take on economic ties

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi minister of finance on Tuesday met with the new French ambassador to Iraq to discuss economic relations between the two countries, according to a ministry statement. “Finance Minister Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi received the new French ambassador to Iraq, Boris Boillon…,” read the statement that was received by Iraqi News. “French companies, including L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), seek to open branches in Iraq to effectively contribute to the investment process…,” Boillon said. The two officials discussed a draft agreement between the Commercial Bank of Iraq (CBI) and a French institution, according to the statement. Zubeidi called on French firms to help revive the Iraqi sectors of housing and tourism, noting that Iraq needs $600 million U.S. dollars to rebuild its infrastructure. SS (P) 1