Bulgarian companies are ready to build hospitals in Iraq. This was announced by Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov after the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Bulgarian Embassy in Baghdad with his counterpart Hoshyar Zebari. The newly-opened embassy is located in a building next to the Tigris River in the region of Dzhadriya. A rent of USD 150,000 per year will be paid for the premises. The building will serve as the residence of our mission which has not yet appointed ambassador.

Bulgarian companies may participate in the building of new infrastructure, construction and agriculture, Mladenov said.  The two countries discuss the signing of agreements to avoid double taxation also in the field of trade and transport.

Mladenov began his visit in Baghdad with a meeting with the head of parliament Osama al Nudzheyfi. With Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain al- Shahristani he discussed the possibility for export of Bulgarian agricultural products, the construction boom in Iraq and rebuilding the irrigation systems in the country, most of which were built with Bulgarian participation. “After the opening of the embassy in Baghdad, ahead is the opening of consulate in Erbil and honorary consulate in Basra we will be able to step very seriously on the Iraqi market and work together,” Mladenov said. Shahristani invited Bulgarian companies to come and get acquainted with Iraq and seek local partners. A joint business forum in Basra or Baghdad is envisaged.