Following last week’s positive statements from France’s Ambassador to Iraq, France’s Industry Minister Christian Estrosi urged French companies to open offices in Iraq and claim a share of the lucrative investment opportunities in the country.
He added that the French government will open a major agricultural centre in Kurdistan to train workers in the agricultural sector.
President Talabani emphasized the good relations between the countries, and called for French companies to take part in the reconstruction campaign and in other investment opportunities in Iraq.
Among the deals to be announced in recent days was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the assembly of Renault vehicles in Iraq. The French development agency AFD would also provide loans on preferential terms for projects in key sectors of the economy.
(Sources: Middle East Online, Aswat Al Iraq)