Karbala – French Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel and an accompanying delegation visited the Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue in the Holy City of Karbala. The delegation met with Forum Head Ali Al-Talaqani and several members, including Dr. Khalid Al-Ardawi, Dr. Riyadh Al-Masoudi, Dr. Hameed Al-Turufi, Adnan Al-Salhi, Ahmed Jwaeid, and journalist Essam Allawi.
Forum Head Ali Al-Talaqani stated that the meeting with the French embassy delegation, headed by Ambassador Durel, focused on cultural and economic exchange. He added that the discussions covered Iraq's cultural and economic opportunities, as well as the role of research centers in advancing these fields.
For his part, the French ambassador expressed his pleasure regarding his first visit to Karbala and Al-Nabaa Forum, welcoming the opportunity to meet with its leadership and members to discuss issues pertinent to Iraqi-French relations.
Durel noted that ties between the two nations are deep-rooted and strong, citing numerous shared bonds between the Iraqi and French peoples. He emphasized that strengthening bilateral economic relations is a priority, highlighting ongoing cooperation in security, defense, education, and energy. He also pointed to active healthcare collaboration between the Iraqi and French health ministries.
The ambassador observed that Iraq has seen tangible improvements across various sectors compared to previous years, particularly regarding security. He noted that this progress presents significant opportunities for foreign companies to invest in Iraq in ways that serve mutual interests.
