Waldner: "Austria has great interest in further strengthening relations with Iraq"

State Secretary receives the Governor of Baghdad, accompanied by a delegation of the Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce

Vienna, 17 February 2012 – "Austria has a great interest in further strengthening bilateral relations, in particular business relations with Iraq", said State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner during a meeting with the Governor of Baghdad, Salah Abdul Razzaq, who is currently on a one-week visit in Austria.

Iraq is among the countries with the highest annual economic growth worldwide. In 2011, the Iraqi economy grew by 9.5%. Since 2008 Austrian exports to Iraq have continuously increased, so that this country is now the third most important market for Austrian products in the Arab Region. Trade volume has more than tripled from 2010 to 2011, and currently amounts to 600 million euros. "I see very good investment opportunities for our companies, especially in infrastructure projects in the area of water, electricity, and hospitals", stressed the State Secretary.

The meeting also addressed the current internal political and regional situation a few weeks after the withdrawal of US troops. "I also expressed my deep concern to Governor Razzaq over the horrifying number of executions in Iraq since the beginning of the year", Waldner concluded.

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