SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The United Arab Emirates will invest $3 billion in Iraq, it said in a joint statement at the end of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to UAE, state news agency (WAM) reported.
“UAE announced its investment of three billion dollars in Iraq. The initiative aims to strengthen economic and investment relations, create new opportunities for cooperation and partnership, and advance economic, social, and developmental growth in support of the brotherly Iraqi people,” the statement said.
The Iraqi premier accompanied by a delegation headed to the UAE on Sunday morning to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Kadhimi separately met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and UAE Vice President and Prime minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during his visit.
The Iraqi prime minister said in a tweet on Sunday that his visit to the UAE was to enhance Iraq’s regional and international relations.
“As part of government’s approach to enhance Iraq’s regional and international relations, I am today in the UAE with an official delegation,” Kadhimi said in a tweet.
“We discussed a number of joint issues, enabling an even more advanced relation and cooperation between the two countries,” he added.
Ahead of his travel, Iraqi Airways announced plans to start direct flights to the UAE capital on May 1, the state-owned Iraqi news agency cited the company as saying.
Khadimi’s visit to the UAE follows one to Saudi Arabia last week, during which Riyadh said it would increase investments in Iraq by five-fold to $2.67 billion.
