Iraq, Turkey to establish joint investment fund, PM says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia'bar Ali al-Sudani's government is working to establish a joint investment fund with Turkey, the premier's office said on Thursday. The fund is intended to finance investment and development projects in Iraq, accelerate strategic initiatives and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries. The announcement came during a meeting in Baghdad between al-Sudani and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, accompanied by a delegation. According to a statement from the prime minister's office, al-Sudani said Iraq-Turkey relations are rooted in historical, geographical and long-term shared interests, and that the two countries have broad opportunities to expand cooperation across various sectors. Al-Sudani called on Turkish companies to expand their investments in Iraq's agricultural sector, noting that his government will continue programs to develop livestock farming and agricultural production. Bayraktar, for his part, said Turkey attaches great importance to its relations with Iraq and is ready to pursue broad strategic partnerships in oil, gas, electricity and regional connectivity, emphasizing the value President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan places on the Development Road project.