Iraq leader offers lucrative deals to France

  • November 18, 2009 8:18 pm

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Wednesday promised lucrative oil and reconstruction contracts to French business leaders keen to restore their country’s place as Iraq’s top business partner.

“You need to be brave, you need to be courageous and to invest in all sectors,” he said to applause, at a meeting with France’s MEDEF employers’ association. “Iraq is a very promising basket for investors, without risk.”

Talabani has been treated to full honours during a three day state visit to France that began Monday with a formal dinner with President Nicolas Sarkozy and has continued with talks with political and business leaders.

Sarkozy paid a brief visit to Baghdad in February to promote France’s ambition to revitalise relations with Iraq’s new rulers, which were damaged when Paris led international opposition to the US-led invasion in 2003.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/node/4928012

France Honors Iraqi President Talabani with State Visit

  • November 17, 2009 8:10 pm

Iraqi President Jalal Talibani marks his first official trip to France with a four-day visit that includes meetings with French political and business leaders.

Iraqi President Jalal Talibani is getting the red-carpet treatment in France, with the Iraqi flag flying on the Champs Elysees in Paris. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is hosting a dinner for Talibani who is also expected to meet with French business leaders.

The visit underscores the turnaround in French-Iraqi relations. In 2003, France led international opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. But in February, President Sarkozy paid his first visit to Baghdad.

French Ambassador to Iraq Boris Bouillon says today Paris is eager to capture a share of lucrative oil and reconstruction deals in Iraq.

Read more: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/17/2009111700324.html

French firm ADP wins Iraq airport contract

  • November 2, 2009 8:14 pm

French airport operator Aeroports de Paris has won a contract to work on plans for a new international airport in Iraq, a spokesman for ADP said on Monday.

Iraqi Transport Minister Amer Abdul-Jabbar said the contract was worth around $42.5 million.

He said the airport would be built between the three provinces of Kerbala, Najaf and Hilla, which are home to some of Shi’ite Islam’s holiest cities. Hundreds of thousands of Shi’ite pilgrims have visited them since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Read more:  http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINL234995520091102

Iraqi premier meets French officials in Paris

  • May 4, 2009 8:12 pm

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is meeting French officials in Paris as the two countries seek to bolster business dealings and mend diplomatic relations strained by the U.S.-led war in Iraq.Al-Maliki plans meetings with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Monday. He also is scheduled to speak with representatives from businesses including Paris-based oil giant Total and European aerospace group EADS.

Read more: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=938727&lang=eng_news

French woo Iraqi vice president for oil deals

  • April 15, 2009 8:11 pm

France’s president and French executives are wooing Iraq’s vice president this week, seeking oil and other business contracts and to renew lucrative links to Baghdad.Adel Abdul-Mahdi was to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Wednesday. Both Sarkozy and Kouchner have sought in recent months to bury past tensions with Iraq over French opposition to the U.S.-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein.

Iraq’s substantial oil reserves, arms market and billions of dollars worth of reconstruction contracts are a key reason why. France was one of Iraq’s key trading partners under Saddam.

Abdul-Mahdi met the CEO of French oil giant Total SA, Christophe de Margerie, on Tuesday. The two men discussed two potential oil exploration contracts in Iraq, according to an Iraqi Embassy official. The official was not authorized to be publicly named according to embassy protocol.

Read more: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=921093&lang=eng_news