PM Al-Zaidi Pitches Vast Investment Opportunities to French Firms
At a Glance
- Iraqi PM Al-Zaidi met with major French corporate leaders in Paris to secure expansive investments.
- Al-Zaidi vowed to provide all necessary support to guarantee a favorable environment for French investments.
- Iraq and France agreed to prepare for an upcoming Baghdad–Paris Conference in Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi met with heads of major French corporations in Paris to pitch expansive investment opportunities in Iraq's energy, infrastructure, and mineral sectors, while announcing an agreement with President Emmanuel Macron to host an upcoming Baghdad–Paris Conference.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- According to the Prime Minister's Media Office, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi stated that "Iraq views France as a trusted partner within the framework of their enduring friendship, underscoring Iraq’s need for strategic partners."
- During the meeting, al-Zaidi announced that "he and French President Emmanuel Macron had agreed to make preparations for convening a Baghdad–Paris Conference in the Iraqi capital."
During a meeting with representatives from major French corporations at his Paris residence, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi highlighted the historic and enduring relations between Iraq and France.
He presented a diverse portfolio of investment opportunities spanning energy, industry, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and rail network development.
Al-Zaidi affirmed that his government will provide "all necessary support and facilitation" to ensure a favorable environment for interested French companies planning to visit and invest in Iraq.
The Prime Minister emphasized the strategic Development Road Project, highlighting its global importance as a vital corridor for boosting economic connectivity and securing global supply chains.
He affirmed Iraq's ambition to expand crude oil production from 4.8 million to 10 million barrels per day, alongside major associated gas utilization projects.
Al-Zaidi also pitched lucrative mineral resource investments, inviting French extraction partnerships in sulfur, phosphate, silica, and petrochemicals.
FYI
Under the auspices of Prime Minister al-Zaidi and President Emmanuel Macron, Iraq and France signed six landmark memoranda of understanding at the Élysée Palace to dramatically advance bilateral economic, defense, and energy ties.
The official diplomatic visit culminated in a joint statement outlining a shared strategic vision to bolster Middle Eastern security while respecting national sovereignty.
A core component of the agreements involves a strategic arms roadmap, highlighted by a Letter of Intent with Harmattan AI for autonomous air defense systems and planned acquisitions in counter-UAV and surveillance technologies.
Economically, al-Zaidi engaged with representatives from 50 major French companies during a Paris forum aimed at integrating French corporate expertise into Iraq's infrastructure and healthcare frameworks.
In the critical energy sector, the Iraqi government and TotalEnergies signed a cooperation protocol to negotiate multi-billion-dollar investments designed to optimize crude oil extraction and fast-track Iraq's energy transition.
The comprehensive diplomatic roadmap also prioritized institutional modernization, including technical pacts to elevate Iraqi civil aviation standards and a Letter of Intent to secure critical financing via the French Development Agency.
Culturally, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to preserving global historical diversity, celebrating the reopening of the Mosul Museum and initiating joint film heritage restoration projects.
Addressing historic security challenges, al-Zaidi reiterated Iraq's firm commitment to judicial transparency, vowing to "bring to justice those responsible for the attack on French forces" that tragically claimed the life of a French major earlier this year.
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