25 July 2018 - 16:01

Nechirvan Barzani, visiting Saudi delegation meet in Erbil, discuss expanding ties

<p style="text-align: left;">The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani, has met with a Saudi delegation that is currently visiting the Region where the two sides discussed potential programs to boost employment and investment in the region and traded views on strengthening economic and trade relations between the two governments, according to a statement released on Tuesday, July 24.

"The two sides agreed to begin making the Kurdistan Region a center of commercial and economic activity, from which investment can spread throughout Iraq," the statement said.

According to NRT the statement stressed “the need to start direct flights between the Kurdistan Region and Saudi Arabia and to open branches of Saudi banks in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The two sides committed to holding a conference for this purpose in the Kurdistan Region or Saudi Arabia, that would bring together investors and businessmen from Saudi Arabia, the Kurdistan Region, and relevant government bodies on both sides. A joint committee would be established to follow up on agreements.”

Barzani also expressed his support for developing economic and trade relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Saudi Arabia and hoped that the near future would see practical steps to developing these linkages.

Reporter’s code: 50101

News Code 4915