President Barzani welcomes French business delegation
In his meeting with the delegation, President Masoud Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region is eager to enhance economic relations with French companies and thanked the French government for its role in encouraging companies to invest in Kurdistan.
Speaking on behalf of the mission, Mr Courtaigne said that several major French companies have already established their presence in Kurdistan and more are planning to come, citing good security, a conducive business environment, and close cooperation by the Kurdistan Regional Government as the main reasons for their interest.
In their meeting with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Ambassador Denys said that the French companies came to Kurdistan to evaluate what is needed and to find out how to participate successfully in rebuilding and investing here. He added that the French people want to play an important role in building and developing the Kurdistan Region.
Representatives of 23 companies participated in the visit, including the Chairman of the France-Iraq Business Council Mr Yves-Louis Darricarrere, the CEO of the French Union of Employers (MEDEF) Mr Thierry Courtaigne, and representatives of Total, Lafarge, EADS France, Gaz de France, Bureau Veritas and Bouygues Travaux Publics. MEDEF represents 800,000 companies across every sector in France.
During the visit, a France-Kurdistan business forum was held to bring the delegates together with Kurdistan’s chambers of commerce and companies to exchange ideas. Kurdistan’s government and business leaders called on the French to bring their renowned expertise in agri-business and tourism to the Region.
French companies already have a presence in Kurdistan, such as France Telecom through its stake in mobile operator Korek; Lafarge which is the largest non-oil foreign investor in Iraq; and Total which has acquired an interest in a Kurdistan oil exploration block.
As well as meeting President Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, the delegation also met the Minister for the Interior Karim Sinjari; Minister for Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami; the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa; the Chairman of the Investment Board Herish Muharam,; Minister for Planning Dr Ali Sindi, and the Governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi. The delegation was accompanied by the Consul General in Erbil Mr Alain Guépratte, and the KRG Representative to France Ms Khaman Zrar Asaad.
