KurdistanObserver.com

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Wants Italians To Invest In Southern Kurdistan

Erbil, 26 Sept. (AKI) - The president of the Kurdish Parliament in Iraq, Adnan al-Mufti, has urged Italian businesses to help with Kurdistan's reconstruction by investing in the region where he said the government would allow the free circulation of money and allow profits to be taken abroad. Al-Mufti made the call during a meeting with representatives from 15 Italian companies who are visiting Kurdistan together with the deputy-president of the Italian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Dario Rivolta.

The Parliament of the autonomous Kurdish region "is considering legislation that will cover foreign investments in Kurdistan, to offer greater guarantees to companies which wish to invest in the various sectors including the building industry, tourism and the service sector," al-Mufti said in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI) after the meeting with the Italian delegation.

"We wish to boost our relations in the diplomatic and political fields and in the various economic sectors, because we believe that such initiatives can help build deep bonds between Italian and Kurdish parliamentarians," al-Mufti said.

Rivolta speaking after his meeting with al-Mufti said that the "Italian government is pushing to increase Italian economic involvement in Iraq through the 'gateway' offered by Kurdistan," and that Italian companies will "contribute gradually to the process of reconstruction and the creation of a free market economy," in Iraq.

The Italian delegation also met with Kurdistan's president, Massoud Barzani, and local business leaders and government officials.