Deputy Speaker Hawrami meets with French diplomatic delegation

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami on 14 April welcomed Mr. Francois De Recofis, Head of the economics departments of the French embassies in the Middle East, with his delegation of economic diplomats and Consul General Olivier Decottignies.

On behalf of the Kurdistan Parliament, Deputy Speaker Hawrami thanked France and the French people for their steadfast support for the people of Kurdistan Region.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami and the delegation discussed the Iraq Federal 2021 Budget Law, in which Kurdistan Region will transfer revenues from 250,000 barrels of oil per day to the Iraqi Government in return for a share of the budget. These provisions of the law were negotiated over many months by the KRG and the Iraqi Government.

Dr. Hawrami said that the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad is a win-win and is good for the people of Kurdistan Region and all Iraq. The Kurdistan Parliament will monitor the KRG to abide by the agreement, and hopes that the Federal Government will also meet its obligations.

 Regarding the Kurdistan Region’s own budget bill, the Deputy Speaker said that the Kurdistan Parliament hopes to receive the bill from the KRG soon so that MPs can work on it.

He said that the priorities of the Kurdistan Region budget are to pay public employees’ salaries, carry out essential reforms and diversify the economy.

Mr. De Recofis and Dr. Hawrami discussed encouraging French companies to do business in Kurdistan Region.

The Deputy Speaker also gave an overview of the political, economic and health situation.

Mr. De Recofis and Consul General Decottignies were accompanied by Mr. Bruno Menat, regional financial adviser; Mr. Kevin Besanson, Deputy Head of the economic department of the French Embassy in Baghdad; and Moahmmed Faezi, Head of the economic department of the French Consulate General in Erbil.