Iraq seeks stronger trade relations with France

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraq’s trade ministry seeks to expand direct trade exchange with France by importing cars and foodstuffs, Minister Abdelfalah al-Sudani said on Thursday after a meeting with French Secretary of State for Trade Anne-Marie Idrac in Baghdad. “The two sides discussed means to activate economic relations between the two countries and a bigger role by French companies in the Iraqi economy,” Sudani told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Iraq has genuine plans to import cars and foodstuffs from France,” he said. The French official had arrived in Iraq on Thursday (Feb. 19) and met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who called on French companies to work and invest in Iraq after security conditions improved throughout the country.