French trade minister seeks boost in exports to Iraq

France is hoping to bolster exports to Iraq to above the USD 2.0 billion annual mark within the next three years, including more trade involving small and medium-size companies, the French Trade Ministry said Thursday. Commenting on a visit to Iraq by Trade Minister Nicole Bricq, accompanied by a large delegation including 22 small and medium-size entities, the Trade Ministry said that this visit had made concrete achievements. Both sides have reaffirmed a commitment for "State-to-State" interaction and welcomed the holding of a joint commission during the Baghdad visit. Bricq's office remarked that contracts worth Euros 250 million (USD 340 million) were signed between French and Iraqi partners during the visit. These included a deal for a preliminary study of a high-speed rail link between Baghdad and Basra, which would be build by France's Alsthom, if it gets the green light. Iraq also contracted with Thales of France for aviation radars for aerial navigation. Other contracts for infrastructure and electricity generation were also signed. The Trade Minister is also supporting bids by French companies for work in the aeronautics, water and hydrocarbon sectors in Iraq and Bricq's office said French companies were "positioned" to contend for about USD 30 billion in contracts hoping that getting 20 percent of these would be "a reasonable objective."