The PM Meets A Number Of Italian Companies And Businessmen In Rome

Baghdad, (NINA) - Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi met, today Friday, with a number of Italian companies, businessmen and economists, at his residence in the Italian capital, Rome, which he is visiting as part of his European tour. The Media Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement, which the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) received a copy of that "During the meeting, Al-Kadhimi stressed that the Iraqi government welcomed a greater role for Italian companies to invest and partner with Iraq within promising opportunities that are in the common interests of both parties, and on the path to consolidating development and opening the Iraqi market to integration with the international economy. He indicated that Iraq is looking forward to expanding the Italian economic role within the current areas of cooperation in the reconstruction of al-Faw port and the promising railway project (Basra - Turkey), dam maintenance projects, oil projects, electric power and infrastructure. Al-Kadhimi indicated that there are challenges faced by great work to overcome them with regard to corruption, as the government has taken bold steps regarding them, stressing Iraq's determination to establish an attractive investment environment, by granting facilities and securing the work of crews, companies and individuals, and encouraging the Italian and Iraqi private sectors for constructive economic partnership. He also called on companies, businessmen and representatives of Italian banks to invest in promising tourism opportunities, especially activating tourism to Ur of the Sumerians, which His Holiness Pope Francis encouraged pilgrimage to as a holy place in the history of the heavenly religions, just as work is underway to open a direct flight between Baghdad and Rome. For their part, the Italian businessmen and economists expressed their appreciation and desire to seize opportunities for joint cooperation and enhance the areas of bilateral partnership. They also expressed their confidence in the future of the Iraqi economy and the reform steps pursued by the Iraqi government in the field of development and strengthening Iraq's non-oil resources./ End